Wash the rice thoroughly under cold running water and set aside.
Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the onions until golden-brown. Remove and set aside.
While the pan is still hot, add all the spices and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add the rinsed rice to the pan, along with the salt and 550ml/1 pint of water. Cover and bring to the boil. Add half of the cooked onions and simmer on a low heat for a further 10-15 minutes until the rice is tender.
Serve hot and garnished with the remaining onions.