HOW TO COOK PILAU RICE FOR 4 TO 6 PEOPLE

This classic Pilau rice recipe is a simple and delicious recipe that you’ll want to make time and time again. With plenty of flavour, this tasty side dish is perfect for serving the chicken tikka masala, spicy lamb or other classic Indian dishes. Naan bread on the side and fresh cinnamon sticks broken throughout,. This recipe serves 4-6 people and takes around 40 mins to prepare and cook. Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Make sure you reheat thoroughly before serving.

Ingredients

• 1tsp cumin seeds
• 1tbsp ghee or oil
• 1 onion, peeled and chopped
• 4 cardamom pods
• 4 cloves
• 1tbsp turmeric
• 250g basmati rice
• 2 bay leaves
• 1-2 cinnamon sticks, broken

1. Heat a large pan, which has a tight-fitting lid. Sprinkle the cumin seeds over the base and cook for 30 secs, stirring well to toast them but taking care not to burn them. Tip out of the pan into a bowl.
2. Heat the ghee or oil in the pan. Add the onion and cook it over a medium heat for 5-7 mins, until it starts to soften.
3. Crush the cumin seeds lightly with the cardamom pods.
4. Add the cumin, cardamom, cloves and turmeric to the pan and cook for 1-2 mins.
5. Rinse the rice well and add to the pan, along with 450ml boiling water, the bay leaves and cinnamon sticks and stir briefly just to mix. Bring the mixture to the boil, cover the pan and cook over a low heat for 12-15 mins, until the water is absorbed. Leave the rice in the pan but off the heat for a few mins before serving.
6. The rice may be prepared in advance. Make sure that it’s cooled very quickly after the initial cooking and then kept refrigerated. To serve, reheat thoroughly in a microwave.