Jaggery Rice

Ingredients

• 1 cup Royal® Authentic Basmati Rice
• ¾ cup jaggery, grated
• 2 cups water
• 2 tbsp ghee (clarified butter)
• ¼ tsp cardamom powder
• 2 tbsp chopped almonds
• 2 tbsp chopped cashews
• 2 tbsp raisins
• A pinch of saffron (optional)
• A pinch of salt

Preparation

1. Rinse the rice: Rinse the Royal® Authentic Basmati Rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Set the rice aside to drain.
2. Cook the rice: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil over medium heat. Add the drained rice, stir gently, and cover the pan with a lid. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 10–12 minutes.
3. Drain the rice: Once the rice is cooked, turn off the heat. Drain any excess water and set the rice aside.
4. Prepare the jaggery syrup: In a small pan, combine the grated jaggery with ¼ cup of water. Heat on low, stirring occasionally, until the jaggery dissolves completely. Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve to remove any impurities.
5. Combine the rice and ghee: In a large pan, melt 2 tbsp of ghee over medium heat. Add the cooked rice and stir gently to coat it with the ghee.
6. Add the jaggery: Pour the jaggery syrup over the rice, making sure it is evenly distributed.
7. Add the remaining ingredients: Sprinkle in the cardamom powder, almonds, cashews and raisins. Add a pinch of salt. Stir gently and cook for another 5 minutes over low heat.
8. Add saffron: If using saffron, soak a few strands in warm water and add them to the rice.
9. Rest and serve: Turn off the heat and let the rice rest for a couple of minutes before serving warm.

Note
For a richer flavor, lightly toast the almonds and cashews in ghee before adding them to the rice. Adjust the amount of jaggery to suit your taste.

(Authentic Royal)