Fragrant Rice

A simple plain basmati rice infuse with the flavour of a few spices is all that is needed with many Indian dishes. Fragrant Basmati rice complements dishes rather than compete with them.

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Prep: 5 minutes plus 30-60 minutes soaking (optional)
Cook: 15 minutes

Ingredients

Fragrant Rice

400g basmati rice
1 cinnamon stick
4 cardamom pods
1 dried chilli (optional)

To Serve

crispy shallots or onion rings (optional)

Method

Rice: Soak the rice in a bowl of water for 30-60 minutes, drain and rinse it until the water runs clear or simply rinse the rice without soaking until the water runs clear.
To Cook: Place the rice in a large saucepan with the cinnamon, cardamom pods and dried chilli. Pour over 600ml of water. Place the saucepan over a moderate-high heat. Bring the water to the boil then reduce it to a simmer. Place a lid on the saucepan and leave the rice to cook for 10 minutes then remove it from the heat. Leave it for 5 minutes to steam.
The water should have evaporated and the rice should be tender. Remove the spices from the pan and serve.
To Serve: Serve the rice in one large or individual bowls with a little crispy onion rings sprinkled over the top (optional).