Zeera Rice
Yield: 4
Ingredients
- 2 cups Basmati rice, soaked in a large bowl filled with cold water for a minimum of 1 hour and a maximum of 4 hours
- 1/4 cup neutral oil such as corn or sunflower
- 1/2 cup yellow onion (this is about ½ of a medium onion), sliced into 1/2 moon shapes.
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 1 whole black cardamom (optional)
- 1 large cinnamon stick
- 1 tsp whole cumin seeds (zeera)
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (optional- or you can add ½ tsp if you want it less spicy)
- 3 cups boiling water
Instructions
- Place a medium-sized heavy-bottomed pot on medium heat and add oil.
- Add sliced onions to this and sauté for 15-20 minutes till the white of the onion is no longer visible and the onions have turned a dark golden-brown colour. Be careful not to let the onions turn black-if they begin to do so, just remove the pot from the burner and lower the flame.
- Start boiling your water in a separate vessel at this point.
- Add peppercorns, cloves, black cardamom, cinnamon stick, and cumin to onions. Drain rice and add to the pot.
- Turn the heat to high and pour in boiling water. As soon as it starts to bubble, cover with a tea cloth and lid and turn the heat to low.
- Allow rice to cook for 15 minutes, do not open the lid before the total time has elapsed.
- Remove rice from the burner and allow it to rest for another 15 minutes without opening the lid.