Avare Rice (South Indian Pulao style)

Dish Type: South Indian Rice Variety

Time Taken: 45 min (approx. )

Serves: 3 persons

Ingredients:

Rice                1 bowl soak for 30 min

Avare             1 bowl

Onion             1 medium

Tomato          1 big or 2 small

Oil

Salt

Ground spices mix (see below)

For grinding:

Coriander leaves                 2 tbsp

Ginger                                 1 small piece

Garlic                                   2-3 cloves

Raw grated coconut            2-3 tbsp

Green chilli                         2 nos. add more if you want more spicy

Cardamom                          1 no.

Clove                                  1 no.

Cinnamon                           1 small piece

Saunf                                   ¼ tsp (about 10-grains)

Since spices are ground, don’t exceed the above  quantity. Or, you can use whole spices and grind only the rest of ingredients listed above.

Other Ingredients:

Turmeric pwd          ¼ tsp

Asafoetida (hing)   1 tiny pinch

Kasuri methi            ½ tbsp.

For added flavor and garnish:

Lemon                       1/4^th (optional)

Coriander leaves to garnish

Directions:

Wash and soak semi-polished rice/raw rice for 20 -30min

Grind the masala

In 2-3 tbsp oil in pressure cooker sauté the masala, until raw smell goes off

Add onion chopped to long pieces

Add tomatoes cut to small pieces, salt and fry till tomatoes get mashed well

Add Avare, followed by drained rice. Add 1 tbsp oil

Saute for a minute. Add hing followed by kasuri methi

Add water (quantity enough to submerge the ingredients) and turmeric powder. Cook upto 1 whistle in pressure cooker and about 3-4 min on low flame. Open when pressure drops down.

Garnish with finely chopped fresh coriander leaves and lemon juice squeezed (optional). Mix well.

Avare Rice is now ready.

Recipe Contributor: Ms. Sreeja M