1 cup Basamati Rice
2 cups of water for cooking the rice [ depends on rice type/quality you use, see package instructions]
2 cloves
2 tsp saffron dissolved with 2 tbsp warm milk
Nuts & raisins [optional, I used 1/4 cup each of raw cashews and silvered almonds]
Salt to taste
2 tbsp of ghee [ clarified butter]
Chopped Cilantro for serving
Method: Pick the rice and wash it thoroughly in a flowing stream of water 2-3 times.Once washed, soak the rice in water [ 2 cups in my case] for 1 hour. In a deep, heavy bottomed pot with lid, add ghee and let it warm on low heat.Once warm add the cloves to the pot and let crackle- about 30 secs.Add the nuts next and cook for another 20 seconds till they are light brown.Add the soaked rice along with water, saffron dissolved in warm milk, salt to taste and raisins [if using] and combine well.Cover & let the mix come to a boil on high heat.Once boiling, immediately reduce the heat to low and let cook till all the water has evaporated and the rice has cooked. About 12-15 minutes.Remove from heat and let sit covered for 10 minutes.Before serving fluff up with a fork and serve warm along with lamb chops & a salad or raita.
