fry onions in groundbut oil till slightly brown, add spices of choice (turmeric certainly), add rice & fry for a minute or two, add EXACTLY double the volume water or stock to rice, bring to boil, cover then REDUCE heat to low. cook for approx 12 mins if white basmati or 45 mins if brown basmati. avoid lifting lid. perfecto!
Matter Pilau
275grams/10oz basmati rice
50grams/2oz unsalted butter
half teaspoon cumin seeds
1tsp fennel seeds
4 cloves
4 green cardamons,split open each pod
2 bay leaves
1 medium onion finely chopped
1 tsp ground tumeric powder
1 tsp salt
500ml/20 fl oz water
2 cinnamon sticks broken into 2 inches long pieces
Wash the rice and soak in cold water for 10-15 minutes
Melt the butter over a medium heat and stir fry the cumin and fennel seeds for 2 or 3 minutes
Add cloves,cinnamon sticks,green cardamons,bay leaves and onion and continue to fry until the onion turns slightly brown,stirring frequently
Add the tumeric and salt
Drain the rice then add to the pan and stir fry for 1 minute
Add the water and bring to the boil.Cover the pan and turn down the heat till its just simmering for 15minutes without lifting the lid
Remove the pan from the heat and set aside undisturbed for around 10 minutes
Stir a fork through the rice before serving
Bon Appetite
cheers poodicat that sounds tasty, ive been trying to get hold on cumin and cardamon seed 4 a while but cant seem to find them in the supermarkets... Ill have to go to a specialist shop n pick up all the bits i need... Cheers :)
Tcup of rice in pint jug....water to half inch above rice & pinch of salt. Micro for 15mins & leave to dry (20mins). Tblspoon Ghee ( indian butter) in frying pan (medium heat) add whole seeds; 3 cardemoms, pinch of cumin & coriander seeds & fry till they pop, then add rice to fry pan & fold in.
If you want yellow rice, add haldi (yellow stuff) to fry pan with seeds.