Chitranna: Jeera Rice/Cumin Rice

This is one of the easiest and tasty pulav (rice item).Even though the ingredients seems long..the preparation is very easy and fast..Good dish to prepare for beginners...

Ingredients:
1 cup Long Grain (Basmati) Rice
Cumin seeds(jeera)2TBSP
1TBSP oil
2TBSP of butter or ghee
Gignger garlic paste 1tsp
2 Bay leaves
3tsp of chopped fresh coriander
3-4 cloves
Few whole Black pepper
Black or green Cardamom 1-2
Cashew nut for garnishing
salt to taste
Coconut milk 1cup(optional)(I have not used it)
Water As per requirements(If you are using coconut milk,then add 3/4 cup of water if not then add 1 3/4 cup of water.

(All the ingredients are not included in the above picture)

How to make jeera Rice:

Wash and drain rice 2-3 times and soak in water for 20 minutes.Heat heavy bottom pan add 1/2 tsp of butter and fry the cashew nut till light brown and keep aside. Then heat oil and rest of the butter/Ghee,add bay leaf, cardamom, whole black pepper and cloves,fry for a min and add cumin seeds (jeera),chopped coriander and saute for 2-3 mins.When Cumin seeds are done add onion fry it transparent,then add ginger garlic paste,saute for a min,now add rice and salt, mix well.Add water and coconut milk,give a good stir.Let it cook in medium flame for 6-7 mins,when it starts boiling low down the flame and cover it with a lid ,cook for about 5mins.Keep an eye, rice will be done when holes appear on the surface and water is completely absorbed.Then turn of the heat.
The tasty jeera rice is ready.Garnish the rice with fried cashew nut..