Jeweled Rice with Dried Fruit

Name: Jeweled Rice with Dried Fruit
Ingredients: 3 cups basmati rice (1 1/4 lb); 4 qt water; 3 tablespoons salt; 1/2 cup dried apricots (3 1/2 oz), quartered; 1/2 cup golden raisins (3 oz); 1/2 cup dried cranberries (2 oz); 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter; 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 cup coarsely chopped shelled unsalted pistachios (not dyed red; 2 1/2 oz)