Caramel Rice

Like the gems embedded in a jewel, caramel rice is filled with the aromatic flavours of  spices and taste of dryfruits. I have been cooking this dish past many years and it has been among the most liked varient of rice dishes. There are quite a number of ingredients used in this reciepe but one can skip anyone of it if he/she does'nt like. But certain things which are the base of this reciepe and can't be avoided are rice, curd, butter, sugar and salt.

Caramel Rice

Lets look at the ingredients in detail:-

1. Rice: 1 bowl
2. Curd: 1 bowl
3. Butter: 2tbs
4. Sugar: 1/2 bowl
5. Salt: 1tbs
6. Red chilli powder: 1tbs
7. Fried onion: 1
8. Green elaichi/ cardmom: 4
9. Cloves: 2 
10. Cinimom: 1 stick
11. Almonds grated: 4
12. Cashewnuts: 4
13. Rasins: 2 tbs 
14. Dry coconut pieces 

Now lets start the process:-
First of all heat butter in a pan and add cardmom, cinamom & cloves

 After that add sugar and caramalize it. Below is the pic of caramalized sugar.

Then one should add rice, curd, salt and red chilli powder to it. When adding rice to caramalized sugar it tends to stick but one should not worry as after adding water and boiling, it the texture becomes smooth. After this one must add 2 bowls of water and cover the pan so that rice gets boiled. It takes about 15 - 20 minutes to completely boil. Finally garnish it with the dry fruits and fried onions. One can roast or fry the dryfruits as well; as it gives a nice flavour or can simply add as it is. This reciepe taste awesome with raita or a salted curd with bit cumin powder in it. It also serves as a side dish during a lunch or dinner which can be enjoyed with some curry.
The caramelized sugar gives a nice colour to the rice and curd imparts nice creamy texture to it.

Lets look at some benefits of Spices used in it
Cardamom:-

Apart from being used as a flavouring and aromatic agent in our food cardamom have various medicinal uses as well.

1. It is used for curing digestion problems like heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, intestinal gas and loss of appetite. 
2. It helps in cleansing body as it has detoxifying property. 
3. It is also used for common cold, cough, sore mouth & throat and tendency towards infection.
4. It improves the blood circulation to lungs and helpful in prevention of spasm and convulsions.  

Cloves:-

1. Cloves are known to cure tooth infections and also alleviating pain.
2. Chewing cloves not only gives best breath but also keeps nausea and heartburn away.
3. It is used in aroma therapy and improves respiratory problems.
4. It can also be used in household as fly and ant detterent.

Cinnamom:-
It is one of the world's oldest known spices and have a great place in bakery products. After going through its uses one is sure to add it in his/her diet.

1. It act as brain power booster and smelling it improves the cognitive function of brain.
2. It is used as a digestive aid and helps breakdown fat during digestion.
3. It is commonly used to thin blood hence improving circulation.
4. Adding to food prevent bacterial growth and food spoilage.
5. It is great arthritis pain reliver and also have regulatory effect on blood sugar.

So enjoy the reciepe and also reap the benefits out of it!