Classic Indian Sweet Rice Pilaf | Diwali Special Pilaf Recipe
Author: 
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Indian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: Servings 2
 
Ingredients
  • Basmati rice – 1 cup
  • Cashew nuts – ¼ cup, broken
  • Raisins – ¼ cup
  • Cinnamon stick – ½ inch stick
  • Cloves – 4 to 5
  • Green cardamom – 4 to 5
  • Black cardamom – 1
  • Bay leaf – 1
  • Granulated sugar – 4 tsp
  • Turmeric powder – 1 tsp
  • Saffron – 1 small pinch
  • Milk – 2 tbsp
  • Salt to taste
  • Vegetable oil or ghee (clarified butter) – 4 tbsp
Instructions
  1. Heat 1 tablespoons of oil (or ghee) in a small frying pan and fry the broken cashew nuts until lightly golden. Take them out and set aside.
  2. Boil the Basmati rice till three-fourth cooked. Drain and let it cool completely.
  3. Warm the 2 tablespoons of milk in a small bowl and add the saffron strands into it. Set aside and let the color of the saffron infuse the milk.
  4. Now in a large wok, heat the remaining oil (or ghee) and temper it with whole spices – cinnamon, cloves, green and black cardamoms and bay leaf. Sauté those for a minute till the oil is nicely fragrant.
  5. Add half of the rice, turmeric powder, sugar and half of the saffron-infused milk. Stir lightly so that all rice is coated with bright orange color.
  6. Once the rice is well mixed, add the remaining half and remaining saffron-milk. Season with salt and mix well but with a light hand so that the long grains of Basmati rice do not break.
  7. Add the fried cashew and raisins and give a final mix.
  8. Serve the sweet rice pilaf warm with a spicy Indian curry of your choice.
Recipe by Flavor Quotient at https://www.flavorquotient.com/2014/12/classic-indian-sweet-rice-pilaf-recipe/