mysomalifood : Somali food and more

Plain Rice flavored with spices

Plain rice doesn’t have to be so plain, this Somali rice recipe it is easy to prepare and most all it is a wonderful side dish with full off flavor and color, garnished with crispy fried onions and raisins.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups basmati rice
• 3 cups of water
• 2 tablespoons ghee/oil
• 1 onion sliced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 whole cardamom pods
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 5 black peppercorns
• 2 teaspoon cumin
• 1 chicken cube

Directions:

• Rinse the rice well in cold water until most of the starch is removed.
• Heat the oil in a pan on a medium heat, and sauté the onions until brown.
• Add salt, pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and the cumin and cook until the onions are brown. Add the drained rice and stir for about 2-3 minutes.
• Add the water and chicken cube and stir in and cover, bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat.
• Continue to cook gently on a low heat until the rice is tender about 10 to 15 minutes.

for garnish:

• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 teaspoon food coloring
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 small onion, sliced

• heat the oil over medium heat, add the onion and fry until nice and brown. Add the raisins and cook untill they puff up.
• Add this mixture over rice, add the food coloring on one side.
• Gently fluff the rice with a fork and serve.