Simple Pulao Rice

This is a very simple rice dish that goes especially well with spicy bean dishes, though the mild and fragrant flavour of this dish makes it a delightful side dish for any meal.

Pulao Rice

1 cup of basmati rice
2 tablespoons of ghee, or a combination of butter and oil
3 green cardamom pods
3 cloves
4 peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon of salt
2/3 teaspoon of saffron strands
2 cups of water

1. Rinse the rice and set aside.

2. Heat the ghee or butter and oil in a saucepan over medium heat. When hot, add the cardamom pods, cloves and peppercorns to the pan and fry, stirring for about a minute.

3. Add the rice and stir-fry for about 2 minutes.

4. Add the salt, saffron and water to the rice mixture and reduce the heat. Cover the pan and leave to simmer over a low heat until the water has evaporated (about 20 minutes).

5. When the rice is finished cooking, remove the pan from the burner, and let the rice sit for about 5 minutes, fluff with a fork and serve hot.