Description
This Spiced Tomato and Toasted Almond Basmati is a flavorful vegetarian rice dish infused with cinnamon and garnished with toasted almonds, perfect for Ramadan feasts.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 cup (185 g) of basmati rice, uncooked
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) of ghee
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup (75 g) of almonds, peeled and halved
- Juice of half a lime
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp of tomato paste
- 1 1/2 cup (360 ml) of water
- 1 tsp of sugar
- 1/2 tsp chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp of ground cumin
- 1 bird's eye chilli, finely sliced
- 1 cinnamon stick, around 10 cm in length
- Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the basmati rice in cold water until the water runs clear, then drain well.
- In a separate pan, toast the almonds over medium heat until golden brown, then set aside.
- In a medium heavy-bottomed pot, melt the ghee over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and diced onion, and sauté for 5-7 minutes until the onion is soft and translucent.
- Add the tomato paste and ground cinnamon to the pot, stirring well to combine with the onion and garlic. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the tomato paste is slightly caramelized.
- Add the rinsed rice to the pot, stirring to coat the grains with the tomato mixture.
- Pour in the vegetable stock and lime juice, then season with salt to taste. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.
- Garnish with the toasted almonds and fresh mint leaves before serving.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, you can substitute chicken stock for vegetable stock.
- This dish can be prepared ahead of time and reheated before serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Fresh mint adds a refreshing touch, but you can also use parsley if preferred.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Egyptian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 50
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 6
- Cholesterol: 10