30 in 30: Spiced pilaf rice

Spiced rice pilaf.

This week's meal for two made in no more than 30 minutes and costing under Dh30.

Fresh ingredients
1 onion
1 bulb garlic
1 carrot
200g button mushrooms
1 large bunch coriander

Dry ingredients
1 small bag long grain rice
1 chicken or vegetable stock cube (use fresh if you have it)
1 small jar curry paste

Total cost: Dh28.10

Method

Finely chop two garlic cloves, then slice the onion and the mushrooms. Peel and chop the carrot and make up 350ml of hot stock. Rinse 175g of rice well under running water.

Heat a tablespoon of oil in a saucepan over a medium heat. Add the garlic and mushrooms and cook for two to three minutes. Stir in a couple of tablespoons of curry paste and fry, stirring often, for a couple of minutes, or until the paste starts to smell aromatic.

Tip the rice into the pan and stir well to ensure that the grains are coated with the paste. Pour over the hot stock and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover with a lid and cook for the time stated on the packet, stirring in the carrots five minutes before the end.

Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the chopped coriander, taste to check the seasoning and serve.

The 30 in 30 recipe works on the premise that you have some basic store staples - such as oil, vinegar, butter, salt and pepper - at your disposal.