Aromatic Basmati Rice

Cooking time: 20 mins

SERVES: 4

Ingredients

- 300g of Basmati rice

- 600g of water

- 20g vegetable oil

- 1 teaspoon of cumin seeds

- 4 cloves

- 2 bay leaves

- 4 cardamom pods

- 1 cinnamon stick

- Salt to taste

Method

-Rinse the Basmati rice under cool water until the water runs clear. This removes the excess starch and helps the rice become fluffy.

-In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the cumin seeds, cloves, bay leaves, cardamom pods, and cinnamon stick. Stir until the spices are fragrant, usually around 1-2 minutes.

-Add the drained Basmati rice to the pot and stir until all the grains are coated in oil. Be gentle to avoid breaking the grains.

-Pour in the water and add salt to taste. Bring the mixture to a boil.

-Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and let it simmer for about 12 minutes, or until all the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender.

-Turn off the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for an additional 5 minutes. This allows the rice to steam and become more fluffy.

-Fluff the rice with a fork before serving. Make sure to remove the whole spices if desired.