Indian Sweet Rice with Brown Sugar

Diwali– Indian New Year is on Tuesday this week. For those who are not familiar with the holiday- there is just one thing you need to know- it a fabulous time to eat good food including something sweet.

Regardless of  where you live in India or what tradition you follow, it is a day to eat sweets and spend time with your family and friends.

We usually get together with family and eat lots of delicious food. As I just mentioned, one of the traditions is to eat something sweet.

I had this sweet rice recipe which I thought would be perfect to eat on such an occasion. Actually it is ideal for breakfast with a steaming cup of coffee.

I grew up eating this delicious rice flavored with jaggery, cinnamon, cloves, cardamon and cumin seeds. It has an amazing nutty flavor. In this recipe I have used brown sugar instead- just to make it more accessible. I love eating this rice hot with a dollop of low fat tangy yogurt- it is delicious.

Try this one- it has an amazing flavor…

• 1 cup rice, soaked in water for half an hour
• 1¼ cups brown sugar (tightly packed)
• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
• 2 to 3 cloves
• 1 inch cinnamon stick
• 1 black cardamom, crushed
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds

Heat a medium saucepan and add the oil. Add the cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and cumin seeds. Saute on medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the water and bring to boil. Add the rice and bring to a boil. Cook on high till bubbles form on the surface. Lower the heat and cook with lid on- half way. Once the water has evaporated, put the lid on all the way and cook for 15 minutes- just shy of being done all the way. Take the lid off and add the brown sugar. Mix well and cook for ten minutes on high heat with the lid on. Take lid off and check quickly to make sure the rice is not sticking to the bottom. Put the lid back on and turn the heat off. Let it sit for 20 minutes.

• ¼ cup sliced almonds
• ¼ cup crushed pistachios

Garnish with almonds and pistachios. Serve hot or room temperature.