Jeera Rice Recipe (serves 5)

Jeera rice is possibly my favourite accompaniment to most meals. The nutty, peppery aroma transforms plain boiled rice into mouthwatering, exotic, almost mysterious lusciousness - and it's so easy to do! If you're entertaining for dinner this is a must, you can serve anything alongside, it will jazz up even the most ordinary of meals and the aroma when it cooks will get your guests salivating! The onions are entirely optional, personally I love the texture they add - crispy on the outside and juicy in the middle.

Ingredients:
100 g uncooked long basmati rice (white or brown)
1 large onion
2 tbsp ghee
An inch of cinnamon
3 cloves
5 whole black peppercorns
1 1/2 tsp jeera (cumin seeds)
1 bay leaf
240 ml water
salt to taste
1/2 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp cumin powder

Method:

• Place the rice in a large bowl and wash in warm water until the water runs clear.
• Add warm water to the rice and leave to soak for 1 hour.
• In the meantime slice the onion into long slithers.
• Once the rice is done soaking heat up the ghee in a heavy bottomed pan which has a lid that fits securely.
• Add the cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, cumin seeds, and bay leaf to the hot ghee and allow them to sizzle and become fragrant.
• Add the sliced onion to the pan and cook slowly over a medium high temperature until they become dark brown.
• Drain the rice and add to the pan, stir well so as to coat all of the rice grains in ghee - if you think you need it add a little more ghee to ensure that all the rice is lightly coated, this will help the rice to stay separate and not turn sticky.
• Pour the water into the pan, stir in the salt, garam masala, and jeera powder.
• Cover the pan with the lid and allow the rice to cook over a medium heat for 10 minutes.
• Check the rice - if you feel it needs more water now is the time to add it in.
• Cook covered for a further 10 minutes until all the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.
• Serve hot with your favourite daal or curry.

What is your favourite meal to enjoy with jeera rice? Let us know in the comments below.

Roopa
www.devnaa.com