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This fragrant Yemeni-style Basmati rice recipe is made with cinnamon, clove, cardamom, and saffron and is the perfect side for various Middle Eastern-inspired meals.
Type of Cuisine:
Middle Eastern
Prep Time: 20 minutes.
Cook Time: 20 minutes
How Many Servings?
8 servings
Ingredients:
1X
2X
3X
Adjust Servings
| 3 tablespoons olive oil | |
| 1 ½ sticks cinnamon | |
| 7 whole cloves | |
| 10 crushed cardamom pods | |
| 5 cloves garlic (minced) | |
| 1 teaspoon cumin seeds | |
| 3 cups basmati rice (fully washed and soaked for 10 minutes) | |
| 1 tablespoon salt | |
| 6 cups boiling water | |
| 1 oz saffron water |
Preparation
1
Soak the basmati rice for ten minutes – no more and no less.
2
Heat your olive oil in a relatively large pot over medium heat. Once heated, add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamom pods, and cumin seeds. Toast the mixture until it is fragrant and lightly browned – stirring often. Finally, add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
Add the basmati rice to the pot. Stir well to coat in the flavors and cook the rice for three minutes before adding salt and six cups of boiling water to the pot
3
Bring the rice water to a boil, cover the rice, and reduce the stove heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes. While the rice simmers, prepare the saffron water.
4
After 15 minutes, drizzle the saffron water into the pot and steam the rice for another five minutes.
5
Turn off the heat and allow the rice to rest for ten minutes—fluff with a fork. Serve hot, and enjoy!
Recipe Tips & Suggestions
Handling Yemeni-Style Basmati Rice
While Yemeni-style basmati rice is at its best when served hot and fresh, you can prepare it in advance for later enjoyment. A traditional method passed down through generations is to keep it in the same pot it was cooked in, covering it with a lid and a heavy kitchen towel or blanket. This preserves its warmth and moisture, ensuring it tastes just as delicious when it's time to serve. It's a technique that my grandmother and mother always relied on, and it consistently yielded excellent results.
Storage and Reheating
Although rice isn't typically suitable for freezing, you can store any leftovers for reheating and savoring later. To store cooked and prepared basmati rice, use an airtight container and refrigerate it. It will maintain its quality in the fridge for several days. When reheating, prevent the rice from drying out by adding one or two tablespoons of water before placing it in the microwave. This simple step ensures your reheated rice remains as delightful as the moment it was cooked.