Simple Spiced Rice.

“Simple Spiced Rice”… A delicious mildly flavored rice that goes very well with any spicy Veg or Non -Veg. Curries … Easy to prepare and yummy to relish …. 

I have included many mildly spiced rice before some with little spices while some with only one or two spices. Here I have included almost all the spices we use in pulav preparation but in very minute quantities. Pulav’s that are loaded with spices are difficult to relish with spicy curries as they do not complement each other well. Today however my curry was also mildly spiced with garam masala but the spice level of the green chillies was more, so as per the taste level I prepared the rice with a little bit more of garam masala. One should always judge the level of spices to be included in the curries or rice as per the combination of dishes you are going to serve it with. Younger generation, can withhold such spicy dishes while as you age it become difficult not only to digest but also on the stomach. I will not go into more details, but just write the recipe straight away. I have prepared this rice in pressure cooker as many a times I prefer this method 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.

** Ingredients :

Basmati Rice / Jeera Rice : 2 cups.

Salt to taste 

Water : 3 cups.

For Tempering :

Ghee : 2-3 tblsp

Jeera / cumin seeds : 1 tsp

Whole black pepper : 5-6

Coarsely powdered pepper powder : 1 tsp

Haldi / Turmeric Powder : 1 tsp

Cinnamon / Tike Saal : 1 inch 1 pieces

Cloves / Lavang : 3

Star Anise : 1

Green Cardamom : 2

Black Cardamom :2

Tej Patta : 1

** Wash and soak basmati / jeera rice in plenty of water for 30 mins. Drain off the water.

** Heat ghee in pressure cooker, when melted lower the heat add in all the ingredients under tempering and fry for a few seconds.

** Add in the drained rice, salt to taste and mix well. Finally add in the water and mix properly.

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

** Once the cooker has cooled and pressure has been released or settled down and when you are able to remove the lid, gently do so and allow the rice to cool undisturbed for 5 minutes.

** With a large fork loosen the rice a little bit and allow to cool up a bit for 2-3 mins. Remove in 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. 

** Note : I will be posting “Egg Appos dunked in Spicy Palak Curry” immediately after this one. So just go through the same if you want to use the same combination. You can also use the search option for the same.