Spiced rice, Parsi style ~ Parsi pilau

Recipe Categories : | Indian | Rice |

Yield : serves 4-6  Related recipe : Dhansak

Ingredients :

• 2½ cups long grain rice
• ½ tspn saffron strands
• 2 tbsp boiling water
• 2 tbsp ghee
• 4 cardamom pods, bruised
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 4 whole cloves
• 10 black peppercorns
• 4 cups hot water
• 2½ tspn salt
• rind of 1 orange, finely grated
• 2 tbsp sultanas
• 2 tbsp blanched sliced almonds
• 2 tbsp blanched halved pistachios

Preparation and Cooking Instructions

1. If rice needs washing, do so and leave to drain and dry thoroughly. Soak saffron in boiling water for 10 minutes.
2. Heat ghee in a heavy saucepan and gently fry cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and peppercorns for 2 minutes. Add rice and continue stirring and frying for 2-3 minutes. Add hot water, salt, soaked saffron strands and liquid, orange rind. Stir well and bring quickly to the boil, then turn heat very low, cover tightly and cook for 20 minutes.
3. At the end of this time scatter sultanas over surface of rice, replace lid and continue cooking for 5 minutes longer. Serve garnished with almonds and pistachios.
4. Cooks notes : This is very good served with Dhansak, a famous Parsi dish of meat or chicken cooked with lentils and vegetables