Coconut rice with Vegetables

Coconut milk rice with Vegetables ~ Indian rice dish

Dear Friends,

This is one of my favorite dishes which I regularly prefer to serve for my guests when we invite them for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients:

Basmati Rice                             – 2 Cups

Water                                       – ½ Cup

Coconut pieces                         – 200 grams (Collected from one whole coconut)

Oil / Ghee / Butter                     – 4 or 5 Table spoons

Garlic                                        – 80 grams

Cloves or lavang                       – ½ teaspoon

Cardamom                               – 2

Cinnamon                                 – 2 (1 inch sticks)

Bay leaf                                    – 1

Cashew nuts                             – 1 Table spoon or more (Optional)

Onion                                       – 1 (Medium size)

Green chilies                             – 3 or 4 (Cut them in length wise)

Carrot                                      – 160 grams (one big carrot)

Potatoes                                   – 200 grams (Nearly 2 medium sized)

Beans                                       – 100 grams

Salt                                          – To taste

Chopped Coriander leaves         – 1 Table spoon

Chopped Mint leaves                 – 1 Table spoon

Procedure:

1. Put coconut pieces, water and garlic cloves into a mixie/blender jar. Grind it well. Filter this using muslin cloth or any cotton cloth or a net with close gaps. So, your coconut milk is ready now.

If you plan to use the existing coconut milk which is already available in the super markets then go ahead and use it but add garlic/ ginger-garlic paste to it.

2. Wash the basmati rice and add 3 cups of coconut milk to it and allow it to soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Some times we get more than the enough quantity and some times less. Always as you know if it is less use some water and if it is more use it in sambar or rasam or soup or in dal.

3. Cut all the vegetables into pieces (It is your wish to either cut them into long pieces or small. I have cut them to small pieces). In a fry pan add oil. Once oil is heated add cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, bay leaf. Just after a minute add onions and green chilies. Fry them for 3 to 5 minutes in medium flame and then add the vegetables and salt. Cover with a lid and cook for 5 minutes.

4. Now add the partially cooked vegetables with masala spices into the soaked basmati rice. Check for the salt and add if needed. Put the whole quantity into a rice cooker or pressure cooker and cook it in usual way of cooking the rice.

5. Once the rice is cooked, finally add chopped coriander and mint before serving.

Dish is ready to be served. You can serve for four people.

The side dish for this can be a curd/yogurt raitha or any other masala gravy will go well.

Hope you will make and enjoy eating this recipe.