Mitha Chowka / Meetha Chawal / Sweet Nutty Rice Dessert

I had a request for mitha chowka today, this sweet rice dish, flavoured with cardamom & saffron and full of nuts and raisins is a real treat.  

In Kampala we used to get this only on Fridays.  Once a month Chachi and Malek would make a huge pan of it for the local masjid.  To get this beautiful orange colour, we have used food colouring.   Saffron colours it yellow.

I

2 tablespoon butter or ghee
2-3 cloves
1 stick cinnamon
2-3 pods cardamom
2 cups water
7-8 strands saffron

few drops of orange food colouring (optional)

1 cup basmati rice; washed and soaked for at least 30 minutes
3 tablespoon sliced nuts (almonds, pistachios, walnuts)
1 tablespoon raisins
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

Method
1 Heat the butter, add the whole cardamom, cinnamon and cloves, cook for a few minutes and add the water.
2. Add the saffron and food colouring to the water with the drained rice.  Bring to boil.  Turn down the heat and simmer for about 7-10 minutes until almost cooked, it should be watery.
3. Add the nuts, raisins and sugar, mix and cook for a further 7-10 minutes.
4. Sprinkle the ground cardamom and nutmeg before serving.