Wedding Rice or Arroz Fugath – an East Indian rice recipe made during festive occasions, especially at Weddings.
It is customary to find this rice on an East Indian Dining Table laid on celebratory occasions. Wedding Rice (Arroz Fugath) is served along with other accompaniments such as varias and East Indian Dishes like –
What is Wedding Rice
Wedding Rice or Arroz Fugath is a simple rice preparation, just like any rice pilafs or pulav, cooked in ghee, and has nuts and fruits. This rich rice is flavoured with mild spices and is garnished with nuts, dried fruits, and caramelized onions.
It also has a slightly sweetish taste from the raisins and the caramelized onions and also the added sugar. It is cooked in ghee and hence has a rich flavour and texture.
The wedding rice should be mildly flavoured with a few spices and must have nuts and fruits in every morsel. This is not the kind of rice that you would want to eat everyday and hence it’s made only on special occasions.
This is a traditional recipe and generally served on occasions like weddings and hence the name Wedding Rice.
Wedding Rice Recipe
The ingredients required for making this wedding rice recipe are easily available in our kitchen pantries. Let’s get them ready –
Rice – Long grain Basmati rice is perfect since we are making it for an occasion. But you could even use the regular kolam or any non-sticky rice for this recipe.
If you prefer to use Basmati rice then soak the rice for at least 15 to 20 minutes before you could start cooking. Drain the rice well before cooking.
Also, check the water for cooking rice. For Basmati rice a ratio of 1:1.5 works fine, that is for every cup of rice use one and a half cups of hot water.
Whole Spices – Use a few whole mild spices like green cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves, and a few peppercorns. Also, add a bay leaf to this. Avoid using strong spices so as not to over-power the flavours.
Ghee/Clarified butter – Use good quality ghee, preferably pure ghee. Ghee gives a wonderful flavour and enhances the richness of this rice.
Sugar & Salt – Wedding rice is slightly on the sweeter side. It gets it, sweetness, from the raisins, and also the added sugar. We add 2 tbsp of sugar and salt to taste while cooking the rice.
Caramelized Onions – Finely slice two medium onions, and fry until golden brown. Use these caramelized onions to garnish the rice. Let the onions not turn dark brown but let it also have some crunch. Onions add to the sweetness and flavour of the rice.
Nuts & Raisins – You could use any dry fruits for this Wedding Rice Recipe, but traditionally raisins are used. Also, fry some cashew nuts or almonds in a little ghee and then add to the rice along with the caramelized onions after the rice has cooked.
How to make East Indian Wedding Rice
- Caramelize the Onions & fry the nuts – Heat a tbsp of ghee in a heavy-bottomed pan on a medium flame. Caramelize the onions and remove them on a plate. Then add the nuts and the fruits and fry for 30 secs and remove them on the same plate.
- Saute – In the same pan add 3 tbsp ghee and saute the bay leaf and the whole spices for a minute.
- Add the soaked & drained rice – Once the whole spices are sauteed add the soaked rice and stir fry gently for few minutes. Add the granulated sugar and salt and mix well. Then add 1.5 cups of hot water for every cup of raw rice and allow it to boil.
- Cook the rice – As the water comes to a boil, reduce the flame to the lowest. Cover the vessel with a tight-fitting lid and let the rice cook on low heat for 5 to 6 minutes. Switch off the flame and let the rice stay undisturbed for at least 12 to 15 minutes.
- Garnish with onions, cashew nuts, and raisins – After 15 minutes open the lid and fluff the rice well. Add the nuts and the caramelized onions and mix gently. Also, reserve some for garnishing.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Wedding Rice as an accompaniment with chicken curry or any vegetarian main course recipe such as Shahi Paneer.
Also, serve some great salads and boiled eggs as sides.
Check this video for the Wedding rice recipe
Enjoy Wedding Rice with some East Indian recipes
Chicken Moilee, Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk, Bottle Masala Chicken Curry, tastes best with the Wedding Rice.
Don’t forget the East Indian Mutton Stew.
Also include Wedding Pickle with Carrot and Papaya as sides.
East Indian Wedding Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Rice Soaked, washed and drained
- 2 medium Onions caramelized
- Cashew nuts and raisins (fried in ghee) 2 tbsp each or as required
- Whole spices cardamom – 3, cinnamon 2 pcs, cloves 3 to 4, peppercorns 1/2 tsp and bayleaf.
- 3 tbsp. Ghee for cooking
- 3 cup Hot water
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Wedding Rice Recipe
- Heat 3 tbsp ghee in a pan and add the whole spices. When the spices begin to splutter add the washed and drained rice and fry for 2 to 3minutes.
- Add sugar and salt and 3 cups hot water. When the water comes to a boil reduce the flame to the lowest.
- Cover the vessel with a tight fitting lid and cook for 5 to 6 minutes.
- Now switch off the flame and leave the rice undisturbed for 12 to 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, open the lid and gently fluff the rice with a fork. Garnish with the caramelized onions and fried cashew nuts.
- Serve Wedding Rice with chicken curry or any curry of your choice.
Notes
-  For every cup of basmati or any long grain rice add 1.5 cups of hot water to cook the rice. Â
- Adjust sugar as per your taste. This rice is slightly on the sweeter side so add sugar accordingly.
- Do not overcook the rice. The grains have to be cooked but firm.
- Add whole spices as required.
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