Vegetarian Epicure'S Pilau - cooking recipe

Ingredients

5 tablespoons butter or 5 tablespoons ghee
2 onions, chopped
2 bay leaves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
1/2 cup potato, cut in small dice
1/2 cup cauliflower, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup peas
1/2 cup carrot, cut in small dice
1/2 cup green beans, cut in 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup summer squash, cut in small dice
1/2 cup green bell pepper, cut in small dice
2 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
1/2 teaspoon saffron thread
5 cups water
2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup cashews, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup raisins

Preparation

Heat the butter or ghee in a large pot and saute the onions and bay leaf until the onions begin to color,.
Add the cloves, cinnamon and ginger and stir over medium heat for a minute, then add all the prepared vegetables. the rice, and the saffron.
toss over medium heat for about 5 minutes, then add the water and salt.
Bring the water to a boil, turn the heat down to low, cover the pot tightly, and cook for 25 to 30 minutes.
All the water should be absorbed.
Add the cashews and raisins and gently mix everything together.
spoon the mixture into a large well-buttered casserole, cover and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.
Serve the pilau steaming hot from the casserole.