Brinji Rice

 

Flavoured rice is my family's favourite rice. Be it Briyani,puloa,pilaf flavoured rice is always a hit in my household. Weekends are usually flavoured rice day for us. Since, the rice itself are flavoured, a simple sides of raita or kurma will do for a satisfying meal.

I cooked this delicious brinji rice for our Sunday lunch. Use basmathi rice for the finest long grain and what make this rice recipe special is the ghee fried bread cubes. It adds texture to the rice and the coconut milk enhance the flavour of the rice. Do use any vegetables of your preference..cauliflower is another great choice. A perfect one pot meal i shall say.

Ingredients

1 cup basmathi rice

1 cup water

1 cup coconut milk

1 bay leaf

1/2"inch cinnamon stick

1 tsp fennel seeds

3 cardamom pods

1 star anise

4 cloves

4 slices bread

3 + 1 tbsp ghee

Salt to taste

3/4 tsp ginger garlic paste

2 medium sized onion,sliced

1 green chilly,chopped

1/4 cup chopped carrot

1/4 cup chopped beans

1/4 cup green peas

1 medium sized tomato

1 medium sized potato

3/4 tsp garam masala

3/4 tsp chilly powder

10-12 cashews,broken

2 tbsp chopped mint leaves

2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

Methods

Wash and soak Basmathi rice for 30 minutes.

In a pan over a low flame add ghee and sautee bay leaf,cardamom pods,cloves,fennel seeds,star anise and cinnamon.  

Add onion and green chilly. Sautee till golden brown. Add ginger garlic paste and cook till fragrant.

Add the carrot,beans,peas and potato. Cook for 2-3 minutes.

Add the garam masala and chilly powder. Cook till the raw smell leaves.

Transfer the cooked vegetable mixture to rice cooker. Add the rice,coconut milk and water. 

Add the chopped mint and coriander leaves as well. Season with salt and give a stir.

Cook till the rice are done. Meanwhile fry cashew nuts in ghee.  Fry the bread cubes in the remaining ghee.

Serve with fried bread cubes and sprinkle with ghee fried cashew nuts.