Simple Spiced Rice.

“Simple Spiced Rice”… here is a delicious mildly flavored rice that tastes great served with spicy Veg or Non -Veg. Curries … try including it with various dishes and enjoy with your family and friends ... Yummilicious ...

** I have included many mildly spiced rice dishes here before with minimum spices or with extra spices too. Here I have included almost all the spices that is often added in pulav preparation but in very minute quantities. In my opinion Pulav’s that is loaded with heavy spices are difficult to relish with equally spicy curries as they do not complement each other well and they are best combined with lighter options. 

** My today's curry ie palak with egg appos dunked in was also mildly spiced with garam masala, however, the spice level with addition of the green chillies was more, so as per the taste level I prepared this rice adjusting the masala's accordingly. In my opinion we always need to judge the level of spices to be included in the curries or rice as per combo of dishes to be served with them for best combination. 

** Without running into more details, let me share the simple recipe straight away. I have prepared this rice in pressure cooker for easy method as many a times I prefer this mode of cooking when I do not add any veggies to the rice. Addition of veggies has to be cooked just right, so pressure cooker does not go very well as the vegetable may get overcooked. Well, that's it do try and enjoy it as you like it. 

** Here is my recipe for “Simple Spiced Rice” ... my style ....

** Ingredients :

Basmati Rice/ Jeera Rice : 2 cups.

Salt/ Namak/ Meeta : to taste

Hot Water : 3 cups.

Ghee/ Toop : 2-3 tblsp

** Spices :

Jeera / cumin seeds : 1 tsp

Whole black pepper/ Kali Miri/ Mire : 5-6

Coarsely powdered pepper powder/ Mire Pitti : 1 tsp

Haldi/ Turmeric Powder : 1 tsp

Cinnamon/ Tike Saal : 1 inch x 1 piece

Cloves/ Lavang : 3-4

Star Anise : 1

Green Cardamom/ Ellaichi/ Yelu : 2

Black Cardamom/ Ellaichi/ Yelu : 2

Tej Patta : 1

** Wash and soak basmati/ jeera rice in plenty of water for 30 mins. Drain water, rinse well and add into a colander to strain excess water.

** Heat ghee in pressure cooker pan, when melted lower the heat to minimum and add all spices and fry for a few seconds.

** Add in the drained rice and fry well for 1-2 minutes without letting them burn. Finally add hot water, salt to taste and mix well.

** Cover the pressure cooker lid and cook to one whistle on medium heat, then lower the heat to minimum and cook for 3-4 mins. Now increase the heat and cook to one more whistle then switch off and allow to cool completely.

** Once the pressure has been released and you are able to open the lid, gently do so and allow the rice to cool undisturbed for 5 minutes.

** Then with the help of a large fork loosen the rice a little bit and allow to cool up a bit for 2-3 minutes and then remove into a serving dish.

** “Simple Spiced Rice” is done and ready to be served. Serve this rice with any spicy Veg. or Non. Veg dish of your choice. I served this with a new dish I created “Egg Appos dunked in Spicy Palak Curry” and it tasted simply awesome. I have shared these recipes back to back, just browse through for the recipes and do give it try if you enjoy eggs, it tastes awesome when served in combo.