Recipes - Black pepper ricesuitable for vegetarians

In the south of India, rice dishes are eaten with almost every meal. This variety with black pepper is traditionally eaten with lamb. Serves 4.

Ingredients

200 g basmati rice, rinsed
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a pan, add bay leaves, cumin seeds and peppercorns and fry for a few seconds.
2. Add the rice and salt and stir for 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Add water. Make it twice the depth of the rice. Bring the water to the boil.
4. Reduce the heat to low, cover pan with a tight fitting lid and simmer for 15 minutes until the rice is tender and the liquid absorbed.
5. Loosen the rice with a fork and serve.