Simple Spiced Rice Food

SPICED RICE

Steps:

• Fry the onions, bay and whole spices in the butter for 10 mins. Sprinkle in the turmeric, then add the curry paste and cook until aromatic. Add the rice and the raisins, stir and cook for a good few mins, then add the stock and bring to the boil. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and when really boiling lower the heat and cook for 10 mins. Turn the heat off but don't lift the lid and leave to sit for 20 mins.
• Stir in half the almonds and coriander, with the rest of the coriander and the almonds thrown over the top.

SPICED WHITE RICE

Steps:

• Puree 1 bunch cilantro, 1/4 red onion, 2 garlic cloves, 1/2 cup beer, 1 tablespoon kosher salt and 1 teaspoon cumin in a blender. Fry the mixture in a pot with a few tablespoons of oil, stirring, until fragrant, 5 minutes. Add 2 cups long-grain rice; stir until glossy. Add 2 cups chicken broth and simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in 1 cup thawed frozen peas and carrots; let sit 5 minutes.

SPICY RICE

Steps:

• In a sauce pan combine oil, onion and green pepper. Saute over medium heat until vegetables are tender. Sprinkle in cayenne pepper. Add heated chicken stock and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Add rice and stir. Cover and reduce to a simmer. Continue simmering over low heat until all liquid is absorbed. Serve hot.

NICE 'N' SPICY SAVOURY RICE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Rinse and soak the rice for 10 mins. Heat a large, ovenproof saucepan. Add the oil, then the onion, garlic and ginger. Cook on a low heat until the onion is soft. Add the cloves, cinnamon and cardamom pods and cook for a further 2 mins on a low heat. Add the curry powder and cook for a further 2 mins, then stir.
• Drain the rice and add it to the saucepan. Stir so that the rice is coated in the oil and spices. Add the peas, sweetcorn and half the flaked almonds, if using. Pour over the stock and stir.
• Cover the pan with a lid or with a sheet of foil, then cook in the oven for 15-20 mins. Remove from the oven, scatter with the remaining almonds, if using, and serve.

SPICED RICE

Steps:

• Cook rice with peeled ginger, in boiling salted water until done, about 25 minutes. While rice is cooking, soak the raisins, currants and chopped apricots in hot water to cover, then drain when plump.
• When rice is ready, remove ginger and place rice in a warm serving casserole. To the rice in the casserole, add pepper, nutmeg, shallots, lemon juice, coriander, and olive oil. Gently fold in the plumped raisins, currants and apricots. Keep warm until ready to serve. Just before serving, sprinkle with pine nuts.

SPICY INDIAN RICE

Steps:

• Fry the onions in the sunflower oil in a large frying pan for 10-12 minutes until golden.
• Fill a roomy saucepan with water, bring to the boil and tip in a heaped teaspoon of salt - the water will bubble furiously. Add turmeric and the cinnamon stick to the water. Pour in the rice, stir once and return to the boil, then turn the heat down a little so that the water is boiling steadily, but not vigorously. Boil uncovered, without stirring (this makes for sticky rice) for 10 minutes. Lift some out with a slotted spoon and nibble a grain or two. If they're too crunchy, cook for another minute and taste again. They should be tender but with a little bite. Drain the rice into a large sieve and rinse by pouring over a kettle of very hot water
• Stir the crushed seeds of the cardamom pods into the onions with the cumin seeds and fry briefly.
• Toss in a large handful of sultanas and roasted cashew nuts, then the hot drained rice. This is great with curry and will also give an exotic edge to grilled meat or fish.