Ingredient Focus: Dried Apricots

Sunlight pressed into chew — sweet, sharp, and softly wrinkled with story.

Pantry Zone

Ambient — store in an airtight container in a cool, dark cupboard. Natural dried apricots (the deep orange-brown kind) may darken over time, but that’s flavour, not spoilage. If they dry out, soak in warm water for 10 minutes to revive them. Keep sealed to avoid chewiness turning to leather.

In Season (UK)

All year round (dried imported fruit)

What Dried Apricots Bring to the Table

Dried apricots offer a gentle balance of sweet and tang — soft and chewy, rich with natural sugars, and perfect for adding texture and brightness to both savoury and sweet dishes. They lend themselves to slow braises and quick snacks alike, and their acidity makes them especially good in tagines, stuffings, and chutneys.

Choose unsulphured, darker apricots for a deeper flavour and a slightly caramelised edge — they’re less flashy, more soulful.

How To Use

• Chop into stews, pilafs, or grain salads for a sweet-sharp bite
• Blend into energy balls or oat bars with seeds and spice
• Soak and purée for use in dressings, baking, or sauces
• Dice into tagines or lentil stews to balance savoury warmth
• Pair with nuts in couscous or stuffing for festive roasts

Flavour Pairings

Cinnamon — Almond — Orange — Cumin — Pistachio — Ginger — Rose

Waste Less

Have a handful lingering? Soak and blend into porridge, salad dressings, or sweeten yoghurt and tahini dips. Chop into muffin or scone dough, or freeze soaked apricots in ice cube trays for later use in sauces or teas.

Cook It Like You Mean It

Dried apricots need contrast — salt, acid, warmth. Use them where something savoury needs softening, or something earthy needs lifting. Let them soak a little if they’re firm, and don’t be afraid to cook them slowly — they love to melt into flavour.

What next?

• Find Recipes with Dried Apricots
• Or wander the shelves of the Golden Ingredient Index for more ideas.
• If you like learning ingredients this way, get my weekly kitchen letter.