Ingredients:
6 tb Vegetable oil
1 md Onion, thinly sliced
1 Garlic clove, chopped
10 Whole cloves
1 Cinnamon stick
10 Cardamom pods
2 Bay leaves
1/4 t Turmeric powder (opt)
1 1/2 c Basmati rice
3 c Hot water
1 t Salt
1 c Frozen mixed peas & carrots
1/2 c Golden raisins
1/4 c Almonds or cashews
Serves 4
Method:
Heat the oil in a large pot. Saute the onion until
soft, and add the chopped garlic. Then "splutter
fry" the cloves, cinnamon cardamom, bay leaves and
turmeric powder for 30 seconds to 1 minutes. Lower
the heat and add the rice. Continue to fry and stir
until the rice is well coated with the spices and
starts to become transparent. Add hot water (exactly
double the measure of basmati rice), add salt and
cover the pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat.
Stir in peas and rice and cover. Check the rice
every 5 minutes or so to see whether the water has
been absorbed and the rice is tender. Taste a grain
and see. When the rice is done, fry the raisins and
almonds in a little oil and mix into the rice. Do
not overcook the rice - it will get sticky.