Spinach and Pea Rice

A rich rice dish. Perfect with a simple main dish; also makes a fantastic veggie one pot if you're looking for something quick and healthy (and low GI). If you've got frozen spinach and frozen peas to hand this is a microwave marvel!

• 4 fl oz rice
• 1 tbsp groundnut oil
• 1 small onion
• 1 birds eye chilli
• ½ tsp aniseed seeds (optional)
• ½ tsp garam masala
• ½ tsp ground cumin
• ½ tsp salt
• 150g spinach
• 150g peas

Cook the rice your preferred way. Mine is a microwave rice cooker. Put aside to cool while you prepare the rest of the dish.

Personally I like the frozen veg approach. If this suits you too put the frozen spinach (about 5 cubes) and 2 handfuls of frozen peas into a non-metallic bowl and microwave according to the instructions (4 and a half minutes for me), stirring half way through.

If you're using fresh veg wash and shred the spinach and then boil or steam it and the peas in the same pan for about 4 minutes. Drain as thoroughly as possible.

Peel and roughly chop the onion. Roughly chop the chilli. Get the oil hot over a medium heat in a wide pan. Put in the onions and chilli (and aniseed seeds if you have them) and turn the heat down. Lightly fry until the onions start to go translucent.

When they do put in the garam masala, ground cumin and salt and stir for 30 seconds. Next turn the heat back up to medium and put in the cooked spinach and peas.

Stir fry for a minute and then add the cooked rice. Stir fry the contents of the pan for another 2 to 3 minutes until everything is completely mixed and the rice is reheated. Serve.