Meetha Chawal

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of basmati rice, rinsed a few times and soaked for 10 minutes
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 cup of fresh carrot juice
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1/4 cup golden raisins
• pinch of salt
• 1 heap tbsp of ghee
• 1/2 tsp fennel seeds
• 1/4 tsp whole cloves
• 2 small cinnamon bark
• 6 whole green cardamom, crushed
• a generous pinch of saffron
• optional: nuts (chopped almonds, pistachio, walnuts etc)

Directions:

1. In a rice cooker, add soaked basmati rice (drained). Drizzle in orange and carrot juice, sugar, golden raisins and pinch of salt. Stir to combine.
2. Switch on the rice cooker based upon the manufacturers’ instructions.
3. Meantime, temper the spices. Heat a small skillet on low. Once heated, add ghee and wait for it to heat before adding all spices.
4. Temper spices enough just to release aroma (1 minute). Stir in tempered spices with basmati rice in the cooker.
5. Allow rice to completely cook. Leave rice to rest for a few minutes before adding nuts and gently fluffing it with a fork.
6. Serve meetha chawal warm or at room temperature.