A Stunning Indian Rice Recipe With Fragrant Spices

This Indian rice recipe is one I like to make if I’m serving an Indian meal to guests.  It looks really impressive and tastes very special.  It takes a little bit more time than my usual steamed or boiled rice but it’s pretty simple and well worth the extra effort.

Ingredients:

280g/10oz/1½ cups of basmati rice (basmati is always the best variety to use in any Indian rice recipe)
60g/2oz butter or vegetable ghee
1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
8 whole cloves
8 green cardamoms pods, split open at the top of each pod
2 cinnamon sticks
8 whole peppercorns
1 teaspoon of ground turmeric
570mls/1 pint water
1¼ teaspoon salt or to taste
½ tablespoon of butter or vegetable ghee
30g/1oz seedless sultanas
30g/1oz flaked almonds

Method:

1. Wash the rice and soak it in cold water for 30 minutes. Drain well.  This step isn't 100% necessary but I do recommend it.  You will find that soaking first will make the rice really light and fluffy.

2. In a heavy-based pan, melt the butter over a medium heat and fry the onion for about 5 minutes, until soft but not brown.

3. Add the garlic, cloves, cardamoms, cinnamon sticks and peppercorns. Cook, stirring for 3-4 minutes, or until the onions are golden brown.

4. Add the rice and turmeric and stir for a minute or two. Turn down the heat and cook for another 2-3 minutes, stirring all the time.

5. Add the water and salt, bring to the boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes without lifting the lid.

6. Remove the pan from the heat and leave the cover on for another 10 minutes.

7. Meanwhile, melt the knob of butter over a gentle heat and cook the sultanas for 1 minute or until they change colour and swell up. Transfer to a plate, then add the almonds to the pan, cooking gently until they are golden.

8. Fluff up the Indian rice with a fork, transfer to a serving dish and gently mix through the fried sultanas and almonds with your fork.

 

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