Rice and Noodles

Why settle for the same old boring rice? In this chapter I will show you how easy it is to cook a load of wonderful rice dishes using a few simple spices. A little cardamom and cumin with a few fresh herbs is all it takes to make Herb and Spice Pilaf Rice, for example, which is one of my favourite rice dishes to serve with any grilled meat, fish or vegetable. Adding whole spices to rice lends so much flavour without you really doing anything. Chucking in some cinnamon, cloves, star anise and cardamom gives an immense amount of flavour to the Tomato and Coconut Rice. And the same applies to noodles; they soak up all the flavour of the spices, so a little goes a long way. For example, by adding garam masala, turmeric and fresh chilli to make Surf and Turf Noodles, you will transform what would otherwise be a bland stir-fry into something vibrant and delicious.