Butternut Squash and Maple Pilaf - Maple from Canada

Ingredients

• 750g butternut squash, peeled, deseeded and cut into chunks
• 1 tbsp sea salt
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 240g – 360g basmati rice (60g per person)
• Several sprigs of thyme
• 100g butter
• 3 medium white onions, thinly sliced
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 star anise
• 1 tsp allspice
• 1⁄2 tsp ground cardamom
• 3 tbsp pure maple syrup (preferably dark syrup for its robust taste)
• 60g sultanas
• 50g toasted flaked almonds