Coriander Rice/Chutney Rice

My love for this herb is perennial. I love adding it to Subjis not just as a garnish but a few springs just as one of the ingredients. There are many condiments made of this humble herb like Chutneys, Dips, Raitas, Pickle, etc; Coriander rice is a simple and healthy rice variety and a great lunch box option for kids. It is healthy too as Coriander is rich in fiber and essential nutrients. It aids in digestion too. So why leave out such a beneficial herb from main course cooking and limit it to just being a condiment. Therefore I thought of adding this Coriander rice recipe to my blog post.

Try adding a few sprigs of it to any subji, not in the end but while cooking and see how the dish gets elevated in taste and flavour.
The colour, flavour, and aroma of this rice are just so refreshing. While you are here check out my other rice varieties like Coconut Rice, Masala Rice, Falvoured rice and, Lemon Rice.
I’m calling this chutney rice as these are almost the same ingredients we use for green chutney, barring the chutney Chana. Well, tamarind/raw mango is added in green chutney though, I will try that version shortly and post. Here is the recipe for Coriander Rice…
PREP TIME: 10Mins                                     COOK TIME: 30 Mins
TOTAL TIME: 40 Mins                                  COURSE:  MAIN
CUISINE: SOUTH INDIAN                           SERVINGS: 4
AUTHOR: Rajni Ram

 

Ingredients:
Coriander leaves 1 bunch finely chopped
Rice(regular) 1 cup precooked
Peanuts 1 tbsp
Cashewnuts a few
Green chillies 2
Cumin seeds 1 tsp
Fried gram dal(chutney chana)/Pottukadalai 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder 1 tsp
Mustard  seeds1 tsp
Chana Dal(Bengal gram) 1 tsp
Urad dal(black gram) 1 tsp
Dry red chillies 1-2 broken
Oil for tempering 1 tbsp
Directions:
Cook 1 cup rice in a pressure cooker( I used pot in pot method, you can cook directly too) adding 3 cups water for 3-4 whistles. Once pressure releases spread out the rice on a plate to cool and also drizzle 2 tsp oil over the rice so that the grains do not stick together. Put the chopped coriander, cumin seeds, green chillies and the fried chana/ Pottukadalai and grind at first without water, then after a spin or two add little water and grind to a smooth paste. In a karahi or pan pour some oil and heat. Add the mustard seeds, chana dal, urad dal, dry red chilli and fry until golden brown. Now add the turmeric powder, followed by the ground Coriander puree and nicely fry the paste in oil on low heat. The paste will get a little dense. Add salt and fry for another 2 minutes. Now start mixing in the cooled rice little by little into the cooked paste, and mix nicely so that the rice is nicely coated with the paste. Put off flame and garnish with peanuts and cashewnuts. The flavourful Coriander Rice is ready to serve. Enjoy the lovely green of the rice. Bon Appetit.
Serving suggestions: Raita, Potato fry, or Cauliflower roast or Colaccasia(Arbi/Sepankezhangu) roast and papad.
STEPWISE RECIPE FOLLOWS:
1. Assemble all ingredients. Chop coriander leaves finely, Cook the rice for 3 to 4 whistles, cool on a plate and set aside.

 

2. Put the chopped coriander into the blender along with the green chillies, cumin seeds and fried chana/pottukadalai. Without adding water pulse them once or twice. Now add some water and grind to a smooth paste. Set aside.

 

3. In a karahi or pan pour some oil for tempering. Fry the peanuts to a golden colour and the cashew too and keep aside. In the same oil put in the mustard seeds. Let them crackle then add Chana dal, urad dal followed by dry red chillies. Fry until golden brown and add the turmeric powder.

 

4. Now pour the coriander paste into the oil and fry the paste nicely for 2 minutes. Add salt and continue to fry for another 2 minutes. The moisture should evaporate and the paste should become a little dense.

 

5. Add the cooked and cooled rice little by little to the paste. Mix well and switch off the flame. The flavourful Coriander rice is ready to serve.

 

 

NOTES:
1. While frying the paste in oil be careful not to evaporate it completely. The consistency should resemble sauce consistency.
2. Spread out the rice on a plate and drizzle oil or the rice will turn soft and lumpy once added to the paste.
If you tried this recipe and liked it then please comment below. I would love to hear from you.

Flavoured Rice

A very simple yet flavourful rice. You can make it on the days when you want no masalas. Since there are no pungent spices this Rice goes well with a lot of accompaniments like dal fry, raita, Rajma, Choley and more. Flavoured rice and simple dal fry make for soul food. Let’s get to the recipe right away.

 

PREP TIME: 15Mins                             COOK TIME: 20 Mins
TOTAL TIME: 35 Mins                            COURSE:  MAIN
CUISINE: NORTH INDIAN                     SERVINGS: 4

 

Ingredients:
Basmathi rice 1 cup
Raisins( preferably black) around 10
Cashewnuts around 6 to 8
Walnuts( broken)around  6 to 8
Almonds around 5
Cloves 5
Cinnamon 1 inch stick
Milk 1/4 cup
Saffron 2 pinches
Ghee 2 tbsp
Onion 1 medium cut to thin slices
Directions:
Soak the rice for 15 minutes, drain water and set aside. In a Karahi take ghee and heat. Add the dry nuts and raisins and fry until the nuts are light brown. Remove the nuts from the oil and add in the onion slices and fry until nicely browned. Remove them and set aside. Add little oil to the karahi and put in the whole masalas, fry until aromatic. Add 2 cups water and the milk along with saffron, add some salt and the dry fruits and boil. When it starts boiling transfer the soaked rice, cover and cook, keep stirring every now and then and cover and cook again until the rice is done. Takes about 15 minutes on low fire. Once done, put off the stove, add in the browned onions and mix well. Flavoured rice is ready to serve. Enjoy. Bone Appetite.
STEPWISE RECIPE FOLLOWS:
1. Assemble all ingredients. Soak the Basmathi rice for 15 minutes and drain water.

 

2. Heat the ghee in a karahi and add the nuts and raisins and fry. Remove when lightly browned. Add in the onion to the same ghee and fry them until they are well browned. Remove onions and set aside.

 

3. Add a little oil to the karahi and drop the whole masalas into it when hot. Fry until aromatic, add two cups water, the saffron soaked milk, fried nuts and salt and bring the water to a boil,

 

4. As it boils, transfer the soaked rice and mix well. Cover and cook for few minutes, stir in between and cover and cook again until done. Takes about 15 minutes for the rice to cook on low fire. The water should have evaporated completely.

 

5. Once done, put off the stove and add the browned onions, mix nicely and the flavoured rice is ready to serve.

 

NOTES:
1. Other whole masalas like cardamom,  peppercorns, fennel, cumin etc have not been added on purpose, as then the Pulav taste will come in. This rice has a very subtle flavour.
2. Saffron is optional, but if added gives a good flavour to the dish.
3. Cook rice on low fire, as high heat cooking will evaporate the water fast and the rice won’t cook well and may remain raw.
4. Water to cook rice can be adjusted as per your preference, but rice must be grainy and not mushy.
5. I have numbered a few pictures to avoid confusion in steps.
If you made this recipe and liked it, please do comment below. I would love to hear from you.