Rice Dishes

Rice Dishes

Plain Basmati Rice:

Basmati rice – 1 cup

Water – 2 cups

Olive oil or butter – 1 tbs      

Lemon juice of ½ a lemon

Salt - ½ teaspoon

Cardamom - 2

Cinnamon stick – 1” long

Method:

• Wash rice at least three times and drain
• Heat the oil or butter in a pot and fry the cinnamon and cardamom for 1 or 2 minutes on medium heat
• Add drained rice and fry for another two minutes
• Add water, salt and lemon juice and raise the heat to high and wait till the water boils.
• Lower the heat to minimum, close the pot and let it cook for 10 to 12 minutes
• Shut of the heat, let it stand for 5 minutes and fluff the rice with a fork

Cabbage and Carrot rice with almonds

Ingredients;

Cabbage finely chopped – 1 cup

Carrots grated – 1 cup

Almonds cut without skin – ¼ cup

Cinnamon stick – 1” long

Cardamoms – 2

Cloves – 3

Salt – ¾ teaspoon

A pinch of turmeric powder for colour

Butter or olive oil 2 tbs

Lemon juice of I lemon

Water – 4 ½ cups 

Method:

• Wash the rice at least three times and drain
• Fry the cinnamon, cardamom and cloves in oil or butter on medium heat for two minutes
• Add the almonds and fry them for another 2 minutes – light brown
• Add the cabbage and carrots and fry for 5 minutes stirring regularly
• Add the rice and lemon juice and continue to fry for 3 minutes 
• Add water and salt, turn the heat to high and wait till it boils
• Turn the heat to minimum, close the pot and let it cook for 12 minutes
• Switch the stove off and let it stand for 5 more minutes and fluff it with a fork
• You can replace cabbage and carrots with mixed vegetables

Coriander Rice:

Ingredients:

Rice – 2 cups

Water – 4 cups

Salt – ½ teaspoon

Butter or Olive oil– 1 tbsp

Cloves – 2

Cinnamon stick – 2” long

Cardamoms – 2

Coriander – 1 cup very finely chopped

Lemon juice of 1 lemon

Method:

• Wash and drain the rice and set aside
• Melt butter or Olive oil in a pot and add cinnamon, cardamoms and cloves and stir on low heat for 5  minutes
• Add rice and stir for 5 minutes
• Add coriander, salt, lemon juice and water and bring it to a boil.
• Turn the heat on low and cook for 12 minutes
• Switch the stove off and let stand for 5 more minutes
• Open the pot and fluff the rice wit a fork
• Eat as a side dish

If you don't like the smell of Coriander or Cilantro substitute with the herb you like