Vegetable Pilau

[Guest guest]

Someone was looking for rice dishes and this is a recent favourite of

mine:

 

Vegetable Pilau

 

225g/8oz/1 cup basmati rice

2 Tbsp oil

1/2 tsp cumin seeds

2 bay leaves

4 green cardamom pods

4 cloves

1 onion, finely chopped

1 carrot, finely diced

50g/2 oz/ 1/3 cup frozen peas, thawed

50g/2 oz/ 1/3 cup frozen sweetcorn, thawed

25g/1 oz/ 1/4 cup cashew nuts, lightly dry fried

1/4 tsp ground cumin

Salt

 

Rinse basmati rice well, put in a bowl, cover with water and leave to

soak for about 30 minutes. Heat oil in a large frying pan and fry

cumin seeds for about 2 minutes. Add bay leaves, cardamoms and cloves

and fry for a further 2 minutes. Add onion and fry for 5 minutes

until softened and lightly browned. Stir in the carrots and cook for

3-4 minutes Drain the rice and add to the pan together with peas,

sweetcorn and cashew nuts. Fry for 4-5 minutes. Add 475mls/16 fl oz/2

cups water ground cumin and salt. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer

for 15 minutes over a low heat until all the water is absorbed. Leave

to stand, covered for 10 minutes before serving.

 

Serves 4-6

 

Taken from The Cook's Encyclopedia of Vegetarian Cooking by Linda

Fraser

 

I usually add 1/2 tsp coriander seeds along with the cumin seeds. The

last time I made it I added some threads of saffron which made it

wonderfully scented and a beautiful golden colour.

Christie