Jeera (Cumin Seeds) Rice

Cumin seeds are highly beneficial for digestion and for curing morning sickness. My favourite mouth watering combo is Jeera rice with Mutter Paneer or Butter Chicken. Didn't have time to cook either of them, so I made plain raita (mix of yoghurt, salt, chillies, corriander leaves) this time.

I followed the recipe from Manjusha with minor changes.

Ingredients:

1. Basmati Rice - 2 cups
2. Water - 3 cups
3. Jeera/cumin seeds - 3 tsps
4. Oil or Ghee - 3 tsps
5. Cloves, Cardamom - 3 no.
6. Cinnamon sticks - 2 (1 inch long)
7. Bay leaves - 3 no.
8. Onion - 1 no. (sliced into thin, inch long pieces)
9. Green chillies - 3 no.(finely chopped)
10. Garam Masala powder - 1 tsp
11. Salt - as required
12. Cashewnuts - as required

Instructions:

1. Wash and soak the rice for about 20minutes.
2. Heat oil or ghee in a saucepan and add jeera, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, green chillies and the cashewnuts. Fry till cashews turn golden brown in color.
3. Fry the onions until they become transparent. Add garam masala powder.
4. Drain the rice and add it to the pan. Toss the contents and fry for another 2-3 mins.
5. Transfer the contents in the pan into a rice cooker. Add water and sufficiant salt and cook till the rice is done.