Coriander (kothamalli) Rice

I learnt this recipe from our neighbour. When we lived in Thiruvannamalai, we had a Kannada neighbour and she is very good cook!!!. Any special occasions shows up, she use to make this coriander rice which is simple and easy to make. I added Soy chucks (meal maker) in addition to the ingredients. I like the taste of meal maker and it also has good protein content. I love obbattu which she makes for new year and other special days!!!

Ingredients:

2 cups Basmati Rice

1 cup soy chunks (meal maker)

2 chopped tomatoes

1 big bunch coriander (kothamalli)

6 green chillies

4 tbsp grated coconut

6 garlic flakes

5 cloves

4 cardamom

2 Cinnamon pieces

1 bay leaf

1" ginger

2 tbsp ghee

salt to taste

Preparation

Grind Coriander, garlic, ginger, greenchillies and coconut to a fine paste.

Soy chunks needs proper cleaning. Check Soy chunk cleaning?

Heat Ghee in a pan, add cloves, cardamom, cinnamon , bay leaf for seasoning. Fry for few mts. Add the ground paste. It will take few seconds for the raw smell to vanish. Add chopped tomatoes and fry till mushy. Add rice, soy chunks, salt and 3.5 cups water. Cover and cook till done.

Serve hot with Onion Raita!!!

Note: Adjust green chillies according to ur taste.

Rice and water Ratio: Usually it will be 1:2, Gravy will have water that's why i changed

the ratio. Too much water will make rice to be sticky!!!

I am sending this to Harvest-the festival rice hosted by Sudeshna of Bengali cuisine.

Tomato Bath (Thakkali Upma)

Tomato bath is a comfort food... When I was in Bangalore, most of their dishes would end with 'bath' like bagala bath, bisibela bath, tomato bath etc... I wonder why? I guess bath is rice in Kannada (not sure)!!! This recipe here uses rava instead of rice... In Tamil cuisine it is known as thakkali upma.

Ingredients:

1 cup rava/semolina
4 ripe tomatoes chopped
1 onion chopped
3 green chillies
1" giner finely chopped
2 cups water
salt to taste



Seasoning:

1 tbsp oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp urad dhal
1 tsp channa dhal
curry leaves (optional)

Preparation:

Fry rava for few minutes in a wok till it changes to gold color. Remove from heat and keep aside.

Heat Oil in a pan, add the seasoning items one by one.... Add ginger and fry till aroma comes...add chopped onions and fry till onion becomes translucent. Add tomatoes and saute till tomatoes become mushy. Add salt and water, cover and cook for 10 mts. Once the water starts boiling...slowly add rava to the mixture. Stir continuously, otherwise u will get lumps!!! Keep stirring with all ur strength (kidding) until all the lumps are cleared and rava is cooked (approx 10mts). Finally, u can add little bit of ghee... purely optional...Remove form heat.

Serve hot with Pickle!!