Indian Spiced Rice Recipe

It is very common to associate Indian cuisine with the use of aromatic spices and, of course, they cannot be missing in this recipe that I share. It is a basmati rice prepared in a special way by adding the most used spices in India – cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf, anise and saffron, as well as fresh coriander and mint that add a touch of freshness. This is a very aromatic Indian-style spiced rice dish, perfect to accompany a curry dish or simply to serve as a side dish to a vegetable or meat dish.

Ingredients to make Indian Spiced Rice:

• 220 grams of basmati rice
• 2 anise stars
• 3 cardamom pods
• 3 nails
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 pinch of saffron
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ cup soy milk
• ½ handful of coriander
• 10 mint leaves
• 1 handful of walnuts
• 1 splash of oil
• 450 milliliters of water

How to make Indian Spiced Rice:

1. Place the rice in a strainer and rinse well under running water until the water runs clear.
2. Place the rice in a bowl, cover it with the cold water and let it rest for half an hour.
3. Heat the coconut milk and add the saffron, stir and let stand.
4. Heat a pot with oil and add the anise stars, cardamom, clove and cinnamon. Toast the spices for 2 minutes, stirring a little.
5. Add the well-drained basmati rice to the pot and mix well so that it is impregnated with the oil.
6. Add the water to the pot (if you use 220 grams of rice, add approximately 450 ml of water) and bring it to a boil. When the water boils, pour in the coconut milk with the saffron, coriander and chopped mint leaves.
7. Cover the pot and lower the heat to medium-low.
8. Cook the rice with Indian spices for 8 minutes, turn off the heat and without uncovering the pot, let it rest for another 7-8 minutes.
9. Meanwhile, chop the walnuts and toast them in a frying pan until they brown slightly.
10. After the rest time of the rice, uncover the pot and add the nuts.
11. Serve the Indian-style spiced rice as a side dish for any vegetable dish, curry, meat, etc.