Kerala fried rice

Ingredients: (Serves 6)

1. Basmati rice- 3 cups
2. Cardamom-9
   
3. Cloves-10
4. Bay leaf-4
5. Cinnamon sticks-5
6. Green chillies-2
7. Garlic-1
8. Ginger-1/2 inch piece
9. Green peas-1/2 cup
10. Carrot-1/2 cup, chopped
11. Beans-1/2 cup, chopped
12. Soy sauce-1 tsp
13. Vegetable oil-1/4 cup
14. Melted butter-1/4 cup
15. Salt
16. Water for cooking rice
    

For garnishing:

1. Onion-1, thinly sliced
2. Raisins and cashew nuts-1/2 cup
3. Cilantro
4. Curry leaves

Method:

1. Wash rice and drain.
2. Crush together ginger, garlic and green chillies.
   
3. In a pan pour half of the melted butter and add cardamon, cloves, bay leaf and cinnamon sticks, saute until you get a nice aroma.
4. Transfer the rice into a cooking vessel and add crushed ginger, garlic, green chillies and fried spices into rice along with the melted butter. Add water just enough to cook the rice. (I used a rice cooker and it need 1.5 cup of water for 1 cup of rice). Add enough salt and cook the rice. Take care not to overcook the rice. Rice should not stick together.
   
5. Mean while slightly fry chopped carrots, beans and green peas in 1-2 tsp of oil and 1 tsp of soy sauce and stir. Add salt and keep aside.
   
6. Fry cashew nuts and raisins in 2-3 tsp of the melted butter and keep aside.
7. Finally fry thinly sliced onion in 1 tsp of oil or butter until it is crispy and brown. Transfer into a plate and add 1 tsp of sugar and mix well(this is to keep them crispy and would give a nice taste to fried rice)
8. When rice is done transfer into a big flat tray and mix well with fried vegetables. Finally garnish the top of the rice with fried raisins, cashews, onions and chopped cilantro and curry leaves. Sprinkle 2-3 tsp of melted butter or oil. Serve warm with chilly chicken or chicken curry.