Masala Bhath

Masala Bhath is a fragrant and mildly spiced rice dish enriched with nuts, curry leaves, and whole spices.

**Ingredients

1. 3 cups long-grain rice
2. 3 tbsp ghee
3. 3 tbsp oil
4. 3 large onions, finely sliced
5. 5 cardamom pods, bruised
6. 2 small cinnamon sticks
7. 6 whole cloves
8. 20 whole black peppercorns
9. 1/2 tsp turmeric
10. 5 cups hot water
11. 3 tsp salt
12. 1/2 cup peanuts or cashews, split
13. 2 sprigs fresh curry leaves or 20 dried
14. 3 green chillies, seeded and sliced
15. 2 tsp mustard seeds

**Instructions

1. **Prepare the rice base

   • Wash rice and drain for 30 minutes
   • Heat half the ghee and oil in a heavy pan
   • Fry onions and whole spices until onions turn golden
   • Remove half the fried onions for garnish

2. **Fry the rice

   • Add turmeric and rice to the pan
   • Fry until all grains are coated with ghee

3. **Cook the rice

   • Add hot water and salt
   • Stir well and bring to a boil
   • Cover tightly and cook on very low heat for 20–25 minutes without lifting the lid

4. **Prepare the tempering

   • Heat remaining ghee and oil
   • Fry peanuts or cashews until golden and remove
   • Fry curry leaves, green chillies, and mustard seeds until seeds pop

5. **Finish and serve

   • Pour tempering over the cooked rice and gently fluff with a fork
   • Garnish with fried nuts and reserved onions