Pilau rice is an easy Indian rice dish made with basmati rice and array of spices to make it fragrant & delicious. Ready in under 20 minutes, it is a great accompaniment to any curry.
Ingredients:
- 300 g white basmati rice rinsed well.
- 2 tablespoons oil/ghee/unsalted butter.
- 7 cardamom pods slightly bruised.
- 7 cloves.
- 2 bay leaves fresh or dried.
- 1 cinnamon stick.
- 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds.
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds.
- 2 teaspoon sea salt.
- 600 ml freshly boiled water.
- A bunch of fresh Cilantro chopped and some leaves left whole for garnish.
Method:
- Rinse basmati rice by placing it in a sieve and running under the tap until water starts running clear. Set aside.
- Heat up oil in a pan with a lid and add all the spices and bay leaves. Let them fry for approximately 30 seconds until they start becoming fragrant.
- Add rinsed basmati rice and stir it well so that it is well coated in oil.
- Add freshly boiled water and salt and stir well. Bring it back to the boil and cover the pot with a lid. Reduce the heat to minimum and let the rice simmer for about 10 minutes. Lift the lid and check whether all the liquid has been absorbed.
- Take the pan off the heat and fluff the rice with a fork. Put the lid back on and let the rice stand around 5 minutes while you chop your coriander.
- Add chopped coriander, adjust seasoning if necessary and serve garnished with some extra coriander leaves.