Narangi pulao – orange and pistachio pulao
by Asma Khan
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- Side
- 4
- 30 minutes
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This delicious yet simple pulao recipe from Asma Khan proves just how incredible a rice dish can be. With juicy pieces of orange, crunchy pistachios and whole spices adding fragrance to the grains, it's an easy yet aromatic bowl of pure flavour. Serve it with a rich lamb kofta curry for the perfect Indian dinner.
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Ingredients
Metric
Imperial
- 300g of basmati rice
- 3 tbsp of ghee, or unsalted butter
- 2 cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 cloves
- 1 Indian bay leaf
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large oranges
- 3 tbsp of pistachio nuts, shelled
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Method
1
Wash the rice in cold running water until the water runs clear. Soak the rice in fresh cold water and set aside for at least 2 hours, and soak the pistachios in cold water for 1 hour in a bowl
- 300g of basmati rice
- 3 tbsp of pistachio nuts, shelled
2
Heat the ghee (or unsalted butter) in a pan and add the cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and bay leaf and stir-fry for a few seconds, then remove and set aside on a plate. Try to ensure you leave as much ghee (or unsalted butter) as possible in the pan. Boil 600ml of water in a kettle and keep it ready
- 3 tbsp of ghee, or unsalted butter
- 2 cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 cloves
- 1 Indian bay leaf
3
Drain the pistachios and dry on kitchen paper. Add the pistachios to the ghee (in which the spices were fried earlier), cook for a few seconds then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside
4
Add the chopped onion to the pan and cook until caramelised and golden brown. Carefully add the boiled water, followed by the fried spices and the rind of one of the oranges (these can be large strips). Remove from the heat straight after, as you do not want the water to boil again just yet
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 large oranges
5
Drain the soaked rice and briefly spread on kitchen paper to remove the excess liquid (do not squeeze the rice as this will break the grains). Juice one of the oranges and cut the other into segments for garnishing
6
Add the rice to the pan of hot water followed by the salt. Bring back to the boil and cook uncovered over a medium-high heat until almost all the water has been absorbed (about 4 minutes)
- 1 tsp salt
7
Lower the heat, cover the pan and cook for a further five minutes
8
To serve, gently stir in the orange juice and decorate the rice with orange segments and pistachios
Owner of Darjeeling Express, star of Netflix's Chef's Table and one of TIME's 100 most influential people, Asma Khan is one of the UK's most prominent female chefs. Celebrated for her sumptuous Indian cooking and unwavering commitment to empowering women, she has turned her restaurant into a platform for social change.
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