Basmati Rice Pilaf with Whole Spices, Saffron & Mint

• 1 cup uncooked white basmati rice, preferably Indian or Pakistani
• 2 Tbs. vegetable oil
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 6 green or white cardamom pods
• 2 cinnamon sticks (3 inches each)
• 2 fresh or dried bay leaves
• 1 medium red onion, cut in half and thinly sliced lengthwise
• 2 tsp. kosher or coarse sea salt
• 1/4 tsp. saffron threads
• 1 cup firmly packed fresh mint leaves (from about 3 oz. mint sprigs), finely chopped

Put the rice in a bowl and gently rinse with three or four changes of water, until the water runs fairly clear. Fill the bowl halfway with cold water and let the rice soak at room temperature for 30 min. to soften the kernels. Drain.

Heat a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat; pour in the oil and swirl it around. It should appear to shimmer; if not, continue heating until it does. Add the cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, and bay leaves, which will sputter and crackle and smell aromatic. After 20  to 30 seconds, add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion turns golden brown, about 5 min.

Add the drained rice and toss gently with the onion and spice mixture. Pour in 1-1/2 cups cold water and sprinkle on the salt and saffron. Stir the rice just once to incorporate the salt and saffron. Leaving the pot uncovered, bring the water to a boil over the same medium-high heat. After about 3 min., when much of the water has evaporated or been absorbed (if you move some of the rice with a fork, the water should look like it comes about halfway up the rice), stir the rice once more to bring the partially cooked layer from the bottom of the pan to the surface. Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid and turn down the heat to the lowest possible setting. Cook covered for another 10 min. Without removing the cover, turn off the heat and let the pan stand off the heat, undisturbed, for another 10 min.

Remove the lid and add the mint. Fluff the rice with a fork to let the steam escape and to incorporate the mint leaves. Remove the cinnamon sticks and bay leaves and instruct your guests not to eat the cardamom pods.

Oranges in Cardamom Syrup with Honey Whipped Cream

With just five ingredients, this simple dessert comes together in no time.

• 4 large navel oranges, cut into segments 
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar 
• 1/4 tsp. ground cardamom 
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 2 tsp. honey

Drain the orange segments in a strainer set over a medium bowl. Set the segments and juice aside. 

Put the sugar in a small heavy-duty saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring often, until melted and light amber in color, 3 to 5 minutes. Take the pan off the heat and whisk in the orange juice. The mixture will bubble and clump; whisk until smooth again. Stir in the cardamom.

Put the orange segments in the juice bowl and add the syrup. Toss well. 

In a large bowl, whisk 1 Tbs. of the cream with the honey until smooth. Add the remaining cream and beat with an electric hand mixer on high speed until soft peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. 

Divide the oranges and syrup among serving bowls. Top with the whipped cream. 

Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote with Vanilla & Cardamom

Cardamom gives this compote an alluring flavor. It’s excellent spooned over ice cream, cheesecake, or panna cotta, and even as a spread for a pork sandwich. It will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 4 days.

• 4 cups 1/2-inch-thick sliced rhubarb (about 1-1/4 lb.)
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar; more to taste
• 6 Tbs. fresh orange juice; more to taste
• 3 Tbs. honey
• 1/4 tsp. plus 1/8 tsp. ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 small vanilla bean
• 3 cups hulled and thickly sliced strawberries (about 2 pints)

Combine the rhubarb, sugar, orange juice, honey, all the cardamom, and salt in a heavy-bottomed stainless steel 3-qt. saucepan. With a paring knife, slit open the vanilla bean lengthwise, scrape out the seeds with the back of the knife, and add the seeds and the scraped pod to the saucepan.

Bring to a simmer over medium-low heat, stirring often. Simmer until the rhubarb releases its juice and becomes tender but still retains its shape, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the strawberries and simmer until they start to soften and the rhubarb breaks down slightly, 1 to 3 minutes.

Pour the mixture into a bowl. Make an ice bath by filling a larger bowl with ice and water. Chill the compote over the ice bath at room temperature, stirring occasionally, until completely cool, 10 to 15 minutes. Discard the vanilla pod. Taste the compote and add more sugar and orange juice, if needed.

Cardamom Shortbread Cookies

Cardamom adds just a subtle intriguing note to classic shortbread.

• 12 oz. (1-1/2 cups) unsalted butter, softened; more for the pan(s)
• 15 oz. (3-1/3 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 Tbs. cornstarch
• 1-1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
• 1 tsp. table salt
• 5-3/8 oz. (1-1/3 cups) confectioners’ sugar
• 1 Tbs. pure vanilla extract or paste

For rectangular cookies, lightly butter the bottom of a straight-sided 9x13-inch baking pan. For wedges, lightly butter two 9-1/2-inch fluted tart pans with removable bottoms.

Combine the flour, cornstarch, cardamom, and salt in a medium bowl.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter, sugar, and vanilla on medium speed until smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the flour mixture and mix on low speed until the dough begins to form moist clumps, about 1 minute.

Turn the dough out into the prepared pan (if making wedges, divide the dough between the two pans). Using lightly floured fingertips, press the dough into the pan(s) to form an even layer.

For rectangular cookies, use a bench knife or a paring knife to cut the dough all the way through into 40 bars. With the tines of a fork, prick each bar twice all the way through, spacing the holes evenly and on the diagonal. Lightly flour the tines as necessary to prevent the dough from sticking

For wedges, cut each pan of dough all the way through to form 12 wedges. With the tines of a fork, prick the wedges three times all the way through, spacing the holes evenly over the dough.

Freeze the dough while the oven heats. Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 325°F.

Bake the dough, rotating the pan(s) halfway through, until the top(s) looks dry and goldenbrown, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer the pan(s) to a rack. Using a paring knife or bench knife, immediately re-cut the cookies along the lines. Cool completely before removing them from the pan(s).