Ingredients:
1 cup basmati rice or other long-grain white rice
2 cups water
1 t salt
1/2 t turmeric
3 T ghee or oil
1/2 cup raw cashew halves or bits
1 t Black mustard seeds
1 1/2 t Split urad dal
1/3 cup fresh lemon or lime juice
1/4 cup shredded fresh or dried coconut
Method:
Firstly wash, drain, and dry the rice.
Boil water, salt, and turmeric in a 2-quart saucepan over moderate heat.
Heat ghee or oil over moderately low heat in another 2-quart saucepan. Sauté the raw cashew halves or bits in the hot ghee until they turn golden brown. Remove them with a slotted spoon and set aside. Sauté the mustard seeds and urad dal in the remaining hot oil until mustard seeds crackle and dal darkens to a rich golden brown.
Add the rice and sauté for 1 or 2 minutes, or until the grains are evenly whitish in colour.
Add the boiling salted turmeric water. Stir, raise the heat, and bring the water to a full boil. Immediately reduce the heat to low, cover with a tight lid and gently simmer, without stirring, for 15-20 minutes or until all the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender and flaky.
Remove the rice from the heat, leaving the lid on for another 5 minutes to allow the rice to firm.
Add cashew nuts, lemon or limejuice, and fresh herbs. Mix well and garnish each serving with coconut.
