EMMA’S BUTTERY CLOVE CINNAMON AND BLACK PEPPER RICE

Velvety and fragrant, the spices here are subtle, not overwhelming, but nonetheless evident as rice takes on flavour really well. This rice dish is the perfect accompaniment to fish or curry, adding a unique flavour to any meal.

SERVES SIX

PREP & COOK: 25 MINS

a generous knob of butter

1 cinnamon stick

½ tsp whole cloves

½ tsp black peppercorns

300g (11oz) basmati rice

½ tsp table salt

toasted sliced almonds or cashew nuts, to sprinkle

In a heavy-based pan (with a lid), melt the butter over a medium heat, and fry the spices for 1 minute.

Add the dry rice and stir to coat. Pour in 400ml (14fl oz) water and add the salt. Put the lid on the pan and simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked – but don’t stir or it’ll be impossible to pick out the spices later. When the rice is cooked, the whole spices will have risen to the surface and you can pick them out before you fluff up the rice with a fork. Sprinkle with toasted almonds or cashew nuts.

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CLOVE RULES

Cloves can very easily overpower a dish so they work best when they can be easily removed after they’ve imparted their flavour.

Cloves are so versatile that it’s worth keeping some of the ground spice to hand to add to curry powders, spice rubs or desserts.

WARNING use with caution, a ¼ teaspoon can overwhelm most flavours.

STORAGE

Whole: store for about a year

Ground: will keep for about 6 months

CLOVE QUICK FIXES

images Add a pinch of ground cloves to red meat dishes to bring out the meat flavour; add a pinch to gravy for a richer sauce

images Place an onion studded with cloves into the body of a duck before roasting

images Stud a shallot with cloves to flavour béchamel – simmer in the milk before adding the milk to the roux

images If you make your own marmalade, cloves are a fantastic addition

CLOVE SPICE BLEND

¼ tsp ground cloves

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

½ tsp ground black pepper

1 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tbsp sugar

a pinch of salt

Uses: an exotic hot blend to sprinkle on fruit or make into a syrup to pour over waffles or add to winter puddings