Carrot Bagara Rice - Hyderabad Special

Carrot Bagara Rice

Ingredients
4 cups Basmati rice
6 cups water
1 tsp salt
A bay leaf
1 Cinnamon stick
3 cardomom pods
2 tsp shah jeera
1 star anise
3 cloves
 1 tbsp ghee + 1 tbsp  oil
2 garlic cloves (chopped)
A piece of ginger (chopped)
2 onions (chopped)
 2 green chillies(half slit)
2 carrots (peel & sliced)
A pinch of turmeric(optional)
Few chopped mint leaves
Chopped coriander leaves
*Topping**
Fried shallots ( 2)
Fried cashew nuts
 Method
Boil water, add salt & keep aside.
Heat ghee+oil  in a sauce pan.
Add Cinnamon, cardomom,star anise, shah jeera & cloves.
When aroma of the spices rises add chopped garlic+ginger & green chilli.
Then add sliced onions. 
Fry for a while & then add sliced carrots, mint leaves & coriander leaves.
Then add basmati rice & stir.
When some rice grains change to light brown, add boiled water.
Bring to the boil, cover tightly and simmer until the rice is tender and the water has been absorbed.
Reduce the heat. When rice is 3/4 cooked remove from fire.
Close the lid tightly. Stir occassionaly with a wooden spatule.
Decorate with fried shallots & cashews .
Serve hot with  veg / non-veg curry.