Amardeen (Dried apricot drink)

Keeping on the apricot theme, and with some left over amardeen sauce from my mahalabiya, I thought I’d make up some amardeen drink. A refreshing drink made of apricot leather (amardeen*) traditionally served to break the fast at Ramadan. As with most of my recipes amounts are approximate. Some recipes for this drink use added sugar, but personally I find the apricots are sweet enough as is. Feel free to chuck in some sugar if you like yours extra sweet!

* Also known as kamardeen/din  / qamardeen/din / Amar el Deen/Din / Qamar el Deen/Din etc etc depending on the transliteration of Arabic

Ingredients
100g amardeen (or a few handfuls of dried apricots*)
100ml boiling water
2 tablespoons rose water
Pine nuts / pistachios (to decorate)

1. Tear the amardeen / apricot leather into small pieces and put in a bowl. Cover with boiling water and leave to soak for at least 30 minutes (or until softened, may take longer). *If you can’t get a hold of amardeen, dried apricots are an acceptable substitute, though the flavour wont be as concentrated. Try to avoid the ‘ready to eat’ apricots that most supermarkets sell nowadays, they are partially reconstituted and while perfectly ok to eat they are lacking in the concentrated flavour. Ideally what you want is wizened dried up shrivelled things
2. Once softened, puree until smooth. If necessary push through a sieve
3. Dilute with cold water until it reaches the desired consistency  - you want a thickish juice
4. Stir in the rose water
5. Serve with ice and pine nuts (or pistachios) to decorate