Ingredients

• 2 cups basmati rice
• 8 whole cardamoms
• 6 whole cloves
• 2” length cinnamon stick
• 2 ½ tablesps sugar
• 100 gms raisins
• 100 gms blanched almonds slit in 4 / cashew nuts
• 2 large onions (sliced finely)
• 2 tablesps oil
• 50 gms butter
• 2 teasps salt
• Boiling water (always use to cover 1” above the rice before cooking.)

Method

Wash rice at least 3 times and leave to drain off.

Heat oil in a pan first and then add butter. When quite hot add all the whole spices.

Now add almonds and saute for a few mins. Then add raisins and when they swell remove all the whole spices, almonds and raisins and keep aside.

In the same oil/butter add the finely sliced onions and fry till golden brown.

Add washed rice to the fried onions and saute again mixing well.

Now add the spices, almonds, raisins, sugar, salt and boiling hot water and stir well making sure the water covers just above the level of the rice.

When it starts to bubble, cover with a well fitting lid and cook for exactly 10 mins.

Turn heat off after the cooking time and keep covered for a further 5-10 mins.

Very gently loosen the rice with a fork before transferring into a serving dish.