Lemon Rice

It has been a while since I posted a South Indian dish here. Here’s something simple and quick that I made for dinner yesterday.

Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked basmati (or any other long-grain) rice
2 Tbsp oil (gingelly/sesame oil would be ideal here)
1 tsp chana dal
1 tsp urad dal
1 tsp mustard seeds
2-3 red chillies
A pinch of asafoetida
½ tsp turmeric powder
3-4 green chillies, minced
4-5 curry leaves
½ onion, finely chopped
¾ tsp ginger paste
A good handful of coriander leaves, chopped up
½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (I used 2 large and juicy lemons)
Salt
Sugar

Method:
Cook the rice. (I always use the microwave for this.)

Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pan. Add chana dal, urad dal, mustard seeds, red chillies asafoetida, turmeric powder, green chillies, and curry leaves. Next add the onions, ginger paste, and salt. Cook till the onions soften.

Add the hot rice and mix well. Turn off the heat; add lemon juice to the rice. Add a touch of sugar too if you so desire. Keep for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the rice to absorb the lemon juice and all of the other flavors.

I normally use rice that has been left over from the previous day to make preparations like tomato rice, tamarind rice, ghee rice, etc. In the case of lemon rice though, I have found that it tastes best when the rice used is fresh and steaming hot.

Tomato Rice

I had a day off from work today and not much to do around the house. With most of the chores having been taken care of over the weekend, I decided to spend some time reading. I settled into my favorite spot on the couch with one of the books that I’d borrowed from the local library a couple of days back. A few hours later, it was time for lunch and I had to put something together very fast before hunger took over and I began eating anything in sight. So, I decided to make something that was quick, simple and tasty, something that I make every now and then with leftover rice- tomato rice.

Considering the amount of rice we consume, I’m really surprised that I don’t have too many rice-based dishes (except for this and this) on this blog.

I have listed the ingredients for the recipe in the order in which I had used them. The list looks like a long one and it probably is, but most of them are just common seasoning ingredients and spices that are used almost daily in most South Indian kitchens.

Ingredients:
For seasoning:
3 Tbsp ghee (clarified butter)
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp urad dal
1 tsp chana dal
A pinch of asafoetida
1 stick cinnamon
2-3 bay leaves
¾ tsp powdered cloves
4-5 garlic cloves, crushed and chopped
½ inch piece ginger, grated
4-5 green chillies, finely chopped
A sprig of curry leaves

Other ingredients:
1 large onion, thinly sliced
3 large tomatoes, cubed
3 Tbsp tomato paste
1 ½ tsp coriander powder
1 ½ sambar powder
4-5 cups, cooked rice
Salt as required

Method:
Heat ghee in a large pan. Add all the ingredients for seasoning followed by garlic, ginger and chillies. Fish out the cinnamon stick and the bay leaves.

Sauté onions, and then add tomatoes followed by coriander and sambar powders. Cover and cook till tomatoes turn mushy. Add the tomato paste and cook.

Add cooked rice to the pan and mix well. Serve hot with a raita or just plain yogurt, and pickle.

Corn and Methi Pulao

I love corn-methi pulao but only make it occasionally. Recently, I saw this on Raaga’s blog and decided that it was time I made some again, especially since I had a lot of rice left over from the previous day.

I normally use frozen fenugreek/methi leaves for this recipe, but did not have any this time since I’m in the process of cleaning out my freezer. I substituted it with some kasuri methi. Just keep in mind that while using kasuri methi, a little goes a long way.

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp ghee

1 bay leaf

1 stick of cinnamon

1 tsp cumin seeds

½ - ¾ tsp of a mixture of powdered cloves, pepper and cardamom

2-3 green chillies

1 tsp freshly grated ginger

2-3 garlic cloves, smashed and chopped

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

2 tsp kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)

¾ cup frozen corn

Approximately 2 ½ cups cooked basmati rice

Salt to taste

Method:

Heat ghee in a large pan. Add the bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cumin seeds and the spice mix followed by the chopped onions, ginger, garlic and green chillies. Sauté till the onions are translucent. Fish out the bay leaf and cinnamon stick.

Add the kasuri methi/dried fenugreek leaves and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the frozen corn to this and mix well. Cook until the corn has thawed in the pan and the water content (from the frozen corn) has evaporated.

Add the cooked rice and mix well. Serve hot with raita.

Mixed Vegetable and Soya Rice with a tomatoey raita

Mixed Vegetable and Soya Rice

I made this over the weekend to use up all the small bits and pieces of vegetables languishing in my refrigerator. Since we are big rice-eaters, I always have some rice sitting in the refrigerator. I prefer to use rice which is at least a day or two old for such recipes as each grain of rice remains firm and manages to retain its identity. In addition to the vegetables, I also threw in some soya granules (textured soy protein). Since we are vegetarians, I always look for ways to incorporate this in our meals whenever possible as it adds to the nutritive content of any dish.
Ingredients:
3 cups cooked Basmati rice
1 small onion, chopped
2 spring onions (scallions), chopped
1 tomato, chopped
1 potato, chopped finely
½ cup lima beans
1 cup Soya granules (soak in some warm water for about 10 minutes, squeeze, wash, squeeze again and use)
1 tsp cumin seeds
1tsp ginger paste
1tsp garlic paste
½ tsp chilli powder
2 tsp garam masala
1 Tbsp oil
Salt to taste

Method:
Heat oil in a pan and add the cumin seeds followed by the onions, spring onions and ginger garlic paste. Sauté for a bit till the onions turn translucent.

Add the finely chopped potato, lima beans and chopped tomatoes and cook for 2 -3 minutes.

Add the chilli powder and garam masala followed by the soya granules. Cover and cook on medium heat for 5-7 minutes allowing the soya to absorb all the flavors.

Stir in the cooked rice and mix everything well.

Serve hot with a raita.

Tomatoey Raita

Ingredients:

2-3 cups yogurt, whipped/beaten
1 ½ Tbsp tomato paste
½ cup onion, very thinly chopped
4 green chillies, thinly chopped
Salt to taste.

Method:
Blend the tomato paste into the yogurt.
Add all the other ingredients.
Chill and serve.

This is my entry for

JFI -Rice being hosted by Sharmi of Neivedyam.