Spiced Pilau Brown Rice

The turmeric adds a wonderful golden color to this healthy brown rice dish. The spices add lovely flavor and although you don't eat the leaves, cardamom pods or cinnamon stick, leaving them in makes the dish look very authentic and pretty. A Jamie Oliver recipe.

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1  ounce butter
• 1  red onion, peeled and finely sliced
• 4  cloves
• 10  cardamom pods
• 1⁄2 cinnamon stick
• 3  bay leaves
• 1  pinch black peppercorns
• 1⁄2 teaspoon turmeric
• 11  ounces brown basmati rice
•  sea salt

Directions

1. Heat a saucepan over a medium heat and add the butter.
2. Add the sliced onion and all the spices and fry gently for 10 mins or so until the onion is soft and golden brown and the mixture is starting to smell aromatic.
3. Add the rice to the saucepan and fry for 30 seconds or so to coat it in the spices then add 3 cups of cold water. Bring to the boil and simmer gently for about 15 mins without stirring, until the level of the rice rises to meet the level of the water.
4. Turn the heat down to minimun, cover and cook for 15 mins or until all the water and the flavors of the spices have been absorbed by the rice and it has gone a lovely golden color.
5. Turn off the heat, fluff up the rice with a fork and season with sea salt to taste.
6. Serve.