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Easy Spiced Indian Rice with Cashews
Golden, fragrant, and studded with sweet sultanas, this spiced rice transforms a basic side dish into the star of the table. You'll bloom cumin and cardamom in the same pan as caramelized onions, building a deep flavor base before tossing in the hot, tender grains. Roasted cashews bring a rich, nutty texture that contrasts perfectly with the fluffy rice. It's an effortless companion to your favorite curries or roasted meats.
Ingredients
- 2 onions, sliced
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 heaped tsp salt
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 mugful of American long grain rice (about 200g/8oz)
- 6 cardamom seeds, crushed
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 Fry the onions in the oil in a large frying pan for 10–12 minutes until golden.
Instructions
- 1Heat the sunflower oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and fry for 10 to 12 minutes until they turn golden brown. Taking your time here builds a sweet, caramelized base for the dish.
- 2While the onions cook, fill a large saucepan with water and bring it to a boil. Add the salt, turmeric, and the cinnamon stick to the boiling water.
- 3Pour the long grain rice into the spiced water and stir once. Let the water return to a boil, then lower the heat to maintain a steady simmer.
- 4Cook the rice uncovered for 10 minutes. Don't stir the rice while it simmers; leaving it undisturbed prevents the grains from breaking and becoming mushy.
- 5Drain the rice into a large sieve and rinse it with boiling water from a kettle. Set the sieve aside so the rice can drain completely.
- 6Stir the crushed cardamom and cumin seeds into the golden onions and fry briefly until fragrant. Toss in the sultanas, roasted cashews, and the hot drained rice, mixing well to combine.
Nutrition
5.6g
Protein
9.5g
Fat
0.77mg
Sodium
Notes
- Make ahead: You can fry the onions and toast the spices a day in advance. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge until you're ready to cook the rice.
- Swap: If you don't have sultanas, golden raisins or chopped dried apricots work beautifully.
- Reheat: Warm leftovers gently on the stove with a splash of water to keep the rice from drying out.