1. Rinse rice three or four times, until water remains relatively clear; drain. Cover rice with cold water and let it sit until kernels soften, 20 to 30 minutes; drain.

2. While rice soaks, prepare squash by cutting it in half. Scoop out and discard seeds. Peel tough skin. Cut into 1⁄2-inch cubes (1 cm). You should have about 6 cups (1.5 L) cut-up cubes.

3. In a medium-size saucepan or Dutch oven, heat canola oil over medium-high heat. Sprinkle in cumin and red chilis. Once seeds sizzle and look reddish-brown and chilis blacken, 10 to 15 seconds, add squash and onion, and stir-fry until they are light brown around the edges, about 5 minutes.

4. Stir in curry powder and salt. The heat from the ingredients in the pan will allow the ground spices to cook without burning. Immediately add drained rice, and coat grains by tossing them together gently. Pour in 3 cups cold water (750 mL). Stir. Allow to boil, until it has evaporated from surface and craters are starting to appear in rice, 7 to 8 minutes. Now (and not until now) stir once to bring partially cooked layer from bottom of pan to surface. Cover pan with a tight- fitting lid and reduce heat to lowest possible setting. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes on low. Then turn off heat and let stand on that burner, undisturbed, for an additional 5 minutes.

5. Uncover pan, remove chilies, sprinkle in green onions, Fluff rice and serve.