Recipe - Chelo(Basic White Rice)

5 cup Dry rice; preferably Basmati
2 tablespoon Plus 2 teaspoons salt
1 cup Butter
1 tablespoon Plain yogurt
One half teaspoon Powdered saffron

MIXED WITH
2 teaspoon Boiling water

In a bowl, wash the rice 5 times and then soak for 2 hours in lukewarm
water to cover mixed with 2 tablespoons of the salt. Pour 10 cups water in
a nonstick pot, add the remaining 2 teaspoons salt and bring to a vigorous
boil. Drain the water from the presoaked rice and add the rice to the
boiling water. Stir, cover and bring back to a boil, boiling for 3 to 4
minutes. The rice should move freely and float to the top of the pot. Drain
the rice in a colander, rinse with lukewarm water and taste; if the rice is
salty, rinse with more water. In a large nonstick pot, melt the butter, add
cup water and stir. Set aside half of this mixture. Add the yogurt to the
butter remaining in the pot and stir well. Gently spoon the rice on top of
this mixture, forming a cone. Cover. Cook on medium heat until steam is
visible, about 15 minutes. Cook for 15 minutes more, then turn the heat
down to low and pour the remaining butter mixture over the rice. Wrap the
lid of the pot tightly with a kitchen towel to prevent the steam from
escaping and cook for another 45 minutes. Spoon 1 cup of rice from the top
of the pot onto a plate and mix gently with the saffron mixture. Set aside.
Mound the rice in the shape of a cone on a serving platter. Add saffron
rice to the top before serving. Remove the crust from the bottom of the pan
and serve separately, cut into squares or wedges. Makes 1214 servings.

Recipe by: Washington Post

Posted to MCRecipe Digest by Walt Gray waltgray@mnsinc.com on Mar 18,
1998