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April 22, 2008

Vegetable Rice






I haven't been cooking a great deal. It is already so hot in Delhi/Gurgaon that all I want to do is sit down with tall glasses of juice or iced tea. But meals must be eaten and one dish meals rule my roost during these hot months. This rice makes an excellent lunch idea and I'm sure it will be a hit at parties too.


Ingredients:

250 g Mixed Boiled Vegetables (Carrot, Beans, Peas)


Rice:

1 cup Basmati Rice

¼ tsp Turmeric Powder

½ tsp Oil

1 tsp Salt


Masala:


2 tbsp Coriander Seeds

1/8 cup Coconut, scraped

2-3 Cloves

2-3” stick of Cinnamon

2-3 Red Chillies

2 tbsp Tamarind Paste

Salt to taste

1 tsp Oil


Tempering:

1 tbsp Oil

1 tsp Mustard Seeds

¼ tsp Asafoetida

8-10 Curry Leaves

Coriander Leaves for the garnish



Heat the oil and roast the coriander seeds for 2-3 minutes. Add the chillies, cloves, cinnamon and coconut and roast for a little longer. Grind this mixture to a paste adding the tamarind paste and salt.


Add 2 cups of water and cook the rice in a pressure cooker with the oil, turmeric and salt.


In a pressure pan, heat the oil for the tempering, add the mustard seeds and the asafetida. When the mustard seeds splutter, add the curry leaves and the mixed vegetables. Fry for a couple of minutes. Add the ground masala and fry for 2-3 minutes. Add the cooked rice along with salt and mix thoroughly. Cover and cook on a low flame for 2-3 minutes.


Cloves form an important ingredient in this dish and I am sending this to Canela & Comino for the Think Spice - Think Clove event, Sunita's initiative.

I must admit I got a wee bit jealous last week when I read Nupur's post. I thought about how happy it would make me to receive a small package filled with lovely stuff. And my dear friend, Nandita, seemed to have read my mind. I received this cute parcel from her yesterday and I am so thrilled.


Apart from a sweet letter, the box contained a packet of methkut, some kairi murabba, an assortment of flavoured teas, an agarbatti holder and the garlic-groundnut chutney that I have been craving for quite a while now. My colleagues who watched me open the parcel were shocked to see its contents. They're used to seeing calendars, organizers, placement brochures and random stuff, but never food. Did I notice a bit of jealousy? I sure did. But that's OK. At about the same time that I was in seventh heaven, my namesake got a small package from me with some Nankhatai, aloo mash, fake chicken drumsticks and a readymade curry paste. I'd been meaning to send her the fake chicken drumsticks for weeks now. I noticed her handwriting in her mango pickle post and was shocked to see how similar it was to mine. The only way I could show her was by sending her a sample. Now, this weekend, I shall make some sweet and savoury nankhatai and send them over to the doctor. I do want a clean chit of health afterall. Thanks Nandita! You're a darling.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness, that is some yummy stuff you got in the mail! I can see the long strands of kairi in the muramba and my mouth is watering :)

Raaga said...

@Nupur: A shade of green is good once in a while isn't it? :-) All thanks to Nandita :-)

Unknown said...

Hahaa :)
You know I was just telling your namesake that if Raaga doesn't send me those delicious looking naankatais , I will send soya nankatai missiles from here :) That seemed to have done the trick- I'm glad you liked the stuff!

I also got to hear about the handwriting story...I think you guys better announce your Kumbh mela secret soon!

Hugs!

Sig said...

ok, now I am turning green... You gals seems to be having so much fun.... :)

david santos said...

Good menu and good food.
Have a nice week.

Rhea Mitra Dalal said...

That veggie rice looks absolutely yummy!!
I am bored with my own cooking, and am a bit sick of the non-veg stuff. I'll try this rice real soon especially since I'm a great dsevotee of the one-pot meal :)

Kalai said...

Love the use of tamarind in the veggie rice! What a lovely package you've received! So glad it lifted your spirits. :)

Arundathi said...

the veggie rice looks great! nice colors!

Srivalli said...

gals gals..we are here too ok!...or do we have to change our names????