I want a nice spiced rice recipe - like a pilaf or byriani(sp?) thing but I can't find a recipe I like.

[TheArmadillo]

I want a nice rice recipe to go with the lamb korma I am making - but I can't find one that I like the look of (took me ages to find a nice korma recipe I liked).

Basically I am not well and feeling fussy.

What I want is a rice like I get from the really good takeaway we had before we moved.

I'm guessing tumeric to colour the rice, and I know it had cardamon in it plus the usual onions/garlic/chillis. I also want to put peas in it. But I'm thinking it needs something more - something more unusual - poss cloves or cinnamon? The korma is going to be (fingers crossed) quite mild so spicy rice is fine - but I want more flavour than heat iyswim.

And if anyone has a good dahl recipe at the same time I would be over the moon (again can't find one that's quite what I want).

I have been through cookbooks, my usual recipe websites and googled but nothing is quite what I'm looking for.

do you want pilau, not pilaf?

I can't remember mine exactly
but as far as I can recall I toast squashed caradmom pods, coriander seeds, a cinnamon stick and somethign else I can't remember - little long thin seeds - in a dry pan, then add the oil and cook the onions and garlic, then rice and go ahead as normal

never bother with turmeric

my daal is crap so I won't give you my recipe

CUMIN it is CUMIN seeds

could be pilau (wasn't entirely sure)

That recipe sounds good. Much more along the lines of what I was thinking. Plus have all that in cupboards Thanks very much

This rice is v good www.ottolenghi.co.uk/recipes/mejadarah.

I made veg biryani the other week and it took hours but was amazing. Don't have access to the recipe at the moment I'm afraid.

that also looks tasty - will be making another curry in the week and will give that one a go.
That website looks good - haven't come across that one before. Am off for a browse.

Thanks.

I have a fab dahl recipe that I made at least every week when I was TTC and feeling grumpy!

200ml packet of coconut cream
200ml red lentils
400ml water

(or halve/double the quantities depending on the size of the coconut cream packet!)

tspn each ground cumin, ground coriander,
1/2 tspn ground turmeric
roughly chopped onion and ripe tomato
finely chopped green chili (optional)

Stick it all in a pan, bring to boil, simmer for 20-30 mins, add more water if gets dry.

Gently fry some finely chopped onion until brown, add tbspn black mustard seeds, tspn cumin seeds, fry until they pop, add a few curry leaves (these freeze really well and can use straight from the freezer).

Pour the dressing on the dahl, pop lid on and leave to marinate for 5 mins or so while you do the naan/get plates out etc.

It is v v yummy, tasty, slightly creamy, mmmmm, I really want some now....