Vegetable Pilau
Instructions:
- A popular vegetable rice dish that makes a tasty light supper.
- 225 g/8 oz/1 cup basmati rice
- 30 ml/2 tbsp oil
- 2.5 ml/1/2 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 bay leaves
- 4 green cardamom pods
- 4 cloves
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, finely diced
- 50 g/2 oz//3 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 50 g/2 oz/ 1/3 cup frozen sweetcorn, thawed
- 25 g/l oz//4 cup cashew nuts, lightly fried
- 1.5 ml/1/4 tsp ground cumin
- Salt
- Wash the basmati rice in several changes of cold water. Put into a bowl and cover with water. Leave to soak for about 30 minutes.
- Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the cumin seeds for 2 minutes. Add the bay leaves, cardamoms and cloves and fry for a further 2 minutes.
- Add the onion and fry for 3minutes, until softened and lightly browned.
- Stir in the carrot and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Drain the rice and add to the pan together with the peas, sweetcorn and cashew nuts. Fry for 4- 5 minutes.
- Add 475 ml/16 fl oz/2 cups 6water, 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