Bohri Kesar Chawal

Bohri Kesar Chawal

Bohri Kesar Chawal

Veg

Saffron-scented basmati rice cooked with ghee, whole spices, fried onion, and a generous pinch of saffron steeped in warm milk — the fragrant accompaniment to Bohri kaari, present at every celebratory meal as the rice bed for the curries.

Cuisines

Bohri

Best for

Lunch Dinner

Recipe

Prep: 20 min Cook: 40 min Total: 60 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

1 cup basmati rice
2 cups water
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon saffron strands
2 tablespoons ghee
1/4 cup mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, pistachios)
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
— pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. 1 Wash and soak the basmati rice in water for 30 minutes.
  2. 2 In a small bowl, soak saffron strands in 2 tablespoons of warm water and set aside.
  3. 3 In a pot, bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
  4. 4 Add the soaked rice to the boiling water with a pinch of salt.
  5. 5 Cook the rice until it's 70% done, then drain and set aside.
  6. 6 In a separate pan, heat ghee over medium heat.
  7. 7 Add mixed nuts and raisins, and sauté until the nuts are golden and the raisins are plump.
  8. 8 Add the partially cooked rice to the pan with the nuts and raisins.
  9. 9 Sprinkle sugar, saffron water, and cardamom powder over the rice.
  10. 10 Gently mix the rice, ensuring the saffron and sugar are evenly distributed.
  11. 11 Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and let it cook on low heat for 10-15 minutes until the rice is fully cooked and fragrant.
  12. 12 Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.

Tips

For extra flavour, use whole spices like cloves and cinnamon in the ghee before adding the nuts.