Stuffed apricots

Ingredients for 4 servings:

• 200 g apricot(s), dried
• ½ lemon(s), untreated, juice and zest
• 4 tbsp sugar
• 1 tbsp orange blossom water
• 1 cup cream (Kaymak)
• Pistachios, chopped, unsalted

Instructions

Working time approx. 30 minutes; Rest time approx. 5 hours 45 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 20 minutes; Total time approx. 6 hours 35 minutes

Cover the apricots with warm water and soak overnight (at least 5 hours). Remove the apricots from the soaking liquid and fill the soaking liquid to 1/4 liter with water. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, and orange blossom water. Pour the sugar water into a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Let it boil vigorously for 2 minutes (the pan must be large enough for all the apricots to lie side by side). Then reduce the heat so that the syrup is just simmering. Add the apricots and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Carefully turn the apricots over and simmer for another 10 minutes. Let the apricots cool in the syrup. Just before serving, cut the apricots in half with a sharp knife to create a pocket and then fill with kaymak. Drizzle the apricots with syrup and sprinkle with the pistachios.