Cilantro - Lime Rice

Cilantro - Lime Rice is a simple flavored rice which I have been making it for years now. I have adapted the recipe from here. I love Chipotle's Vegetarian Burrito bowl and the lime rice is one of my favorite rice. I wanted to recreate their burrito bowl and the lime rice I tried from 'Chef In You' turned out pretty good. Now I make it whenever we crave for burrito bowl as I don't prefer to eat out often.

Do try making this if you are a great fan Chipotle's lime rice. It requires only few ingredients and gets done within 15- 20 minutes. In my next post I will write one of the ways I use it. Stay tuned for it :-)

Ingredients:

• Basmati Rice - 1/2 cup
• Butter - 1/2 Tbsp
• Sugar - 1/4 tsp
• Lime Juice - From one lime
• Cilantro (coriander leaves), chopped - 2 Tbsp
• Salt - To taste

Procedure:

Wash and soak rice for 5- 10 minutes. Now heat butter in a pan. When it starts to melt, add the drained rice and sugar. Fry the rice until a nice aroma is got. Then add in the lime juice as desired. Stir it for a minute.

Then add water and salt.Mix well. At this point taste the water for salt. Allow it to boil.

Once the water is absorbed partially, cover the lid and lower the heat to minimum. Let it cook for 10 minutes on low heat.

After 10 minutes, the rice will look like this.

Turn off the heat. Then add in the chopped cilantro and mix gently. Add more lime juice if desired. Then close it with a lid and let it sit for 10 minutes.

Cilantro - Lime Rice is ready!!

Serve it warm. This rice can be added in a burrito, burrito bowl or taco. Above measurement serves two people.

Read More »

Coconut Milk Rice

Coconut Milk Rice is a recent try in my kitchen. It is a rich and flavorful rice dish. The rice is cooked in coconut milk and has a mild flavor infused from whole garam masala and ghee. It requires only few ingredients and very easy to make too. 

I had some leftover canned coconut milk lying in my refrigerator. I was in search of a recipe in order to finish up the milk. I came across this recipe and totally fell in love with it. I knew that it will turn out yummy and as expected it did. I am totally in love with this quick recipe. It is so tasty that I can eat it as it is without any curry. Do give this a try for a get together or any special occasion. I am sure it will please many !!

Ingredients:

• Basmati Rice - 1/2 cup
• Thick coconut milk - 1/2 cup
• Water - 1/4 cup
• Melted Ghee (clarified butter) - 1/2 - 1 Tbsp
• Whole Garam Masala*
• Cashew and Raisins - 1 Tbsp each
• Turmeric powder - A pinch
• Salt - To taste

*I added 1 bay leaf, 2 cardamom pods, 2 cloves and 2 small pieces of cinnamon.

Procedure:

Wash and soak the rice for half an hour.

Now heat ghee in a pan on medium flame. Once hot, add cashew pieces and whole garam masala. After few seconds add raisins. 

Once they are lightly toasted, add turmeric powder, coconut milk and water. Mix well. Now add salt and taste the mixture. Add more if required.

Once it starts bubbling, add in the drained rice.

Mix well and cook the rice until most of the moisture is absorbed.

Then close the lid and reduce the flame on lowest possible, for 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes the rice looks like this. Turn off the heat.

Now fluff the rice gently using a fork. Then close it again and let it rest for 10 minutes.

 Coconut Milk Rice is ready!!

Serve it warm with any spicy curry of your choice. Above measurement serves 1-2 people.

Read More »

Lemon Rice With Veggies

Lemon Rice With Veggies is a simple rice recipe. Lemon rice is one of the popular rice dishes from India. Generally vegetables are not added to the classic lemon rice. But my mother makes it with veggies all the time. As a kid, I never liked it. Few months back, I noted this recipe from her. Finally I decided to make it and it did taste yummy. Now I am really wondering as to why I didn't like it as a kid!

This rice is 'easy to make' and makes a good lunch box dish or for potluck. It is filling and does taste wonderful. Do give this a try and give a break to your 'normal lemon rice' recipe :)

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/2 cup
• Frozen Peas- 1/3 cup
• Chopped Green Beans - 1/3 cup
• Carrot, small sized - 1
• Oil - 2-3 tsp
• Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Urad dal (Split black gram) - 1 tsp
• Curry leaves - Few
• Green Chilli - 1-2
• Ginger, grated - 1/2 tsp
• Onion, small sized - 1/2
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• Grated Coconut, fresh/frozen - 1 Tbsp
• Cilantro (Coriander leaves) - 3-4 sprigs
• Lime juice- To taste
• Salt - To taste

Procedure:

Wash the rice and add it in a microwave safe bowl. Then add double the amount of water, chopped carrot, beans, peas and salt.

Mix and cook it on high for 14- 15 minutes (or you can also cook it in a cooker or in a nonstick pot). Once done, allow it to cool completely.

While the rice is cooking, chop onion, green chilli and cilantro.

Now heat oil in a pan. Once hot add mustards seeds. After it pops, add curry leaves, chopped green chilli, urad dal. Fry for few seconds and then add chopped onion. Sprinkle little salt and fry until it turns slight brown. Then add ginger and fry until the raw smell goes off.

Once done, add turmeric powder and grated coconut. Fry for 15- 20 seconds.

Then finally add the rice-veggie mixture. 

Mix well. Then add chopped cilantro and turn off the heat. Finally squeeze in the lime juice and toss the rice mixture gently.

Lemon Rice With Veggies is ready!!

Serve it hot. Above measurement serves 1-2 people.

Read More »

Maavinkaayi Chitranna (Raw Mango Rice)

Maavinkaayi Chitranna is a very popular South Indian rice dish. In Kannada, maavinkaayi means raw mango. This rice is very similar to lemon rice but with added flavor from mustard powder and the awesome addition of raw mango - coconut mixture. I found this recipe here few years ago and we both are hooked to it. We like this recipe a lot !! My husband loves to have this rice packed for his lunch box. So do try this recipe and I am sure you will enjoy it.

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/2 cup (I used Basmati)
• Raw mango, chopped- 1/3 cup
• Grated Coconut, fresh/frozen - 2-3 Tbsp
• Green chilli - 1-2
• Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
• Mustard- 3/4 tsp
• Sugar- 1/2 tsp
• Salt- To taste

For Seasoning:

• Oil - 2-3 tsp
• Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
• Peanuts- 2-3 Tbsp
• Chanadal (Split chickpeas)- 1/2 Tbsp
• Urad dal (split blackgram) - 1/2 Tbsp
• Curry leaves - Few
• Asafoetida (Hing) - A generous pinch
• Dry Red Chilli - 1-2

Procedure:

Wash and cook the rice (I cooked in a microwave oven). Let it cool for some time. The rice grains should be well separated (you can as well put the bowl in a refrigerator for 5-10 minutes. This ensures the rice grains to be well separated).

Chop the raw mango, green chilli.

Now transfer the chopped raw mango, green chilli and grated coconut in a blender.

Pulse it few times to get a coarse mixture. Set it aside.

Now powder the mustard seeds in a blender or mortar and pestle.

Now heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds. Once it starts to pop, add the peanuts. When it starts to change its color, add in chanadal, curry leaves, dry red chilli pieces, asafoetida and urad dal. Continue cooking until they turn golden brown. Now add the turmeric powder, ground mixture and sugar. Mix well.

Continue to cook this mixture for two minutes and then turn off the heat. Add in some salt and then cooled rice.

Mix it gently until everything comes together. 

Maavinkaayi Chitranna is ready!!

Serve it immediately. Above measurement serves 1-2 people.

Read More »

Pineapple Fried Rice

Pineapple Fried Rice is a very simple Thai dish. I tasted this dish for the first time at my husband's ex-colleague's home. I cannot recall the taste as it was long back but I remember that it tasted good (and the presentation was indeed amazing as he had served in a pineapple). Then I totally forgot about it until I read the recipe in a cook book.

Last year, my BIL gave me a Thai cooking book - Easy Thai Cooking by Robert Danhi . It is a good book for people who eat meat and sea food. I was hunting for a vegetarian recipe and bumped into pineapple fried rice and gave a try with few variations. It turned out very good. The pineapple indeed is a surprise addition. Do try making this variation of the fried rice.

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/3 cup
• Oil - 1 Tbsp
• Chopped Onion- 1/4 cup
• Chopped Bell pepper - 1/4 cup
• Chopped Pineapple - 1/4 cup
• Ginger, grated - 1/2 tsp
• Garlic, grated - 1/2 tsp
• Red Chilli Flakes- To taste
• Soy Sauce- 1 tsp
• Cilantro (coriander leaves) - 3-4 sprigs
• Roasted Cashew - For Garnishing (optional)
• Salt and Pepper - To taste

Procedure:

Wash and cook the rice (I cooked in a microwave oven). Let it cool for some time. The rice grains should be well separated (you can as well put the bowl in a refrigerator for half an hour. This ensures the rice grains to be well separated).

Chop the vegetables and pineapple .

Now heat a pan (or wok) on a high heat. Once hot, add oil. Then add chopped onion and fry for half a minute. Then add in chopped bell pepper. Fry for another minute. Then add in grated ginger and garlic. Continue to fry until the rawness of ginger and garlic goes away.

Then add in the pineapple cubes. Fry for another minute. Then add salt, pepper powder, red chilli flakes. Mix well and add soy sauce. 

Once everything gets mixed add the rice.

Mix it gently and finally add chopped cilantro. 

Once the rice gets heated, turn off the heat and garnish with chopped roasted cashews. Pineapple Fried Rice is ready!!

Serve it hot. Above measurement serves one.

Read More »

Sabsige Soppu Chitranna (Dill Rice)

Sabsige Soppu Chitranna is a flavorful Indian rice. I have been making it for a long time and it has become one of our favorite rice. I adapted this recipe from here.

Dill leaves is very healthy and we get it once a month. I love to make rotti, chapathi etc. Dill is a herb which has a very strong flavor. People either love it or hate it. Luckily we both love the flavor and enjoy it once in a while. This recipe is a keeper. It tastes like lemon rice which is enhance by the flavor of dill leaves and garlic. Do try this recipe and I am sure you will enjoy as much as we do. 

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/2 cup
• Lima Beans (I used frozen) - 1/2 cup
• Dill leaves (Sabsige Soppu), chopped - 1/2 cup
• Oil - As needed
• Mustard seeds- 1/2 tsp
• Green Chilli - 2-3
• Urad dal (split black gram) - 1 tsp
• Garlic pods- 2-3
• Onion, medium sized- 1/2
• Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
• Lime juice- To taste
• Salt- To taste

Procedure:

Wash the rice and put in a microwave safe bowl. Add 1 1/4 cup of water, frozen lima beans, few drops of oil and salt (to taste). 

Cook it in a microwave oven until it gets cooked (it took 14 minutes for me). Alternatively you can cook it in a pressure cooker or in a pot. But make sure the rice doesn't turn mushy. Once cooked allow it to cool completely.

Meanwhile wash the dill leaves and discard the stems and chop the leaves finely.

Then chop the onion, garlic and green chilli.

Once the rice cools, break down it gently until the grains get separated. Then add 1 tsp of oil, chopped dill and turmeric powder. Mix well.

Now heat oil in a pan. Once hot add mustard seeds. After it splutters, add green chilli, garlic and Urad dal. Fry it for few seconds and add chopped onion. Mix well. Sprinkle little salt (remember that you have added salt to the rice). Fry it until the onions turn golden brown.

Then add in the rice mixture. 

Mix well and let it get heated for a while (until the rawness from turmeric and dill leaves goes off). 

Finally turn off the heat and squeeze in some lime juice and mix. Sabsige Soppu Chitranna is ready!!

Serve it hot. Above measurement serves 1-2 people.

Read More »