A simple rice dish flavoured with bayleaf and cinnamon. The dish is combined with fresh vegetables saute’d in butter. The savoury rice dish is a perfect accompaniment to curries, chutney’s and roasts.

Ingredients

  • 250g  Basmati rice
  • 3 cups water
  • Salt to taste
  • 4-5 drops yellow food colouring
  • 1/2 carrot, cubed
  • 1/4 cup peas
  • 1/4 cup sweetcorn
  • 3 green beans, cut into small pieces
  • 1/2 tablespoon of butter or margarine
  • 2 mushrooms, roughly sliced
  • 1/4 onion, finely sliced
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1 bayleaf

Method

  1. In a large pot, add water and rice and place onto the stove top on a medium heat setting.
  2. Once the water and rice as reached boiling point, thoroughly rinse the rice until the water turns clear.
  3. Return the pot of water and rice to the stove top.
  4. Stir in the cinnamon stick, bayleaf and all the vegetables except the mushrooms and onion.
  5. Add in the salt.
  6. In a separate non stick pan, add in the butter or margarine and allow it to melt.
  7. Add in the onion and allow it to simmer for a few minutes.
  8. Stir in the sliced mushrooms and saute’ until fried through.
  9. When the rice is soft to the touch but firm, drain out the water.
  10. Stir in the onion and mushroom mixture.
  11. Add a few drops of food colouring and mix well.
  12. Some of the rice grains will turn red, orange or yellow whilst some will retain its white colour.