Title: Meeta Chawal (Sweet Rice)
Categories: Indian
Yield: 1 Batch
1/2 lb Basmati rice
4 oz Ghee or cooking oil
6 Cloves
6 Cardamoms
1 Cinnamon stick (3")
1/2 ts Mace
2 oz Soft brown sugar
1/2 ts Saffron threads
2 tb Honey
2 oz Sultanas
2 oz Sliced almonds
2 oz Pistachios
Clearly, with so much rice grown in the Indian subcontinent it would
be surprising if there were not a number of sweet dishes made with
rice. This particular dish is cooked almost like a savoury Pillao but
using sweetened water instead of stock.
Wash the rice well and pick it over to remove any impurities. Cover
with cold water and leave to soak for 4 hours.
Heat the ghee or cooking oil in a large, heavy saucepan. Fry the
cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and mace for 3 minutes. Drain the water
from the rice and add the rice to the saucepan, stirring well to
ensure that the rice is well coated with oil. Now pour on enough
boiling water to cover the rice. Add the sugar and bring back to the
boil. Add the saffron threads. Cover the saucepan and cook for 20 to
30 minutes until the rice is al dente. Fold in the honey, sultanas,
almonds, and pistachios and cook a further 5 minutes. Serve hot.
