Afghani fried brown rice

Ingredients 2 cups (1lb 5oz/600g) rice 5 T oil 2 medium onions, thinly sliced ½-in (1 cm) cinnamon stick 1 bay leaf 6 cloves ½ T sugar salt

Preparation
1. Soak the rice for 15 minutes. Wash well and drain.
2. Heat the oil in a pot and fry the onions until brown. Add the cinnamon, bay leaf, cloves and mace, and sauté 5 minutes. Add the sugar and let it caramelize. Add the rice and saute for 2 minutes. Add salt to taste (about 1 teaspoon) and 4 cups boiling water, and cook for 9-10 minutes until the rice is perfectly cooked.