Sambhar Rice - Sambar Rice

Dear Readers,
Wishing you all a Very Happy Tamil New Year! தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு வாழ்த்துக்கள்!

I set out to make Bisi Bela Bhath but I forgot to buy the spice powder. Then I set out to make the spice powder but left out the whole aromatic spices. The recipe I finally decided on was similar to making sambhar so I am calling it Sambhar Rice rather than Bisi Bela Bhath.


If you want a one pot meal quick and easy this is the recipe to try. We were packing for an afternoon trip and this came in handy. With some potato chips this recipe is a great pack away lunch and cooking a large quantity is also easy.

Sambhar Rice
Preparation Time:15 minutes
Cooking Time:25-30 minutes
Ingredients

1. 1 cup rice Sona Masoori Rice (see Note:)
2. 3/4 cup toor dal
3. 3 cups of avrakkai (field beans) chooped , carrots cut into half moons and fresh green peas
4. 1/4 cup shallots chopped
5. 1 tbsp sambhar powder
6. 2 tomatoes chopped
7. 1 cup of tamarind pulp from a small lemon sized ball of tamarind (use a bit more or less depending upon taste)
8. salt to taste
For Masala Powder
9. 1 tbsp coriander seeds
10. 1 tsp cumin seeds
11. 2 tsp pepper corns
12. 4 red chilies
13. few fenugreek seeds
14. 1/2 tbsp split urad dal
15. 2 tbsp fresh or grated coconut
16. 2 tsp of oil
17. Seasonings: curry leaves, mustard seeds, fenugreek seeds and cumin seeds
18. 1/4 cup roasted peanuts
Note:
19. Do not use Basmati rice. Par boiled rice will work or any other rice that could be cooked to mushy will work.
20. I used only 1/2 cup of dal but 3/4 would have been good.

Method

1. Cook the rice and toor dal together with twice the amount of water normally used to get a mushy and soft cooked rice and dal mixture.
2. While the rice is cooking roast the masala powder ingredients one by one, browning them evenly and making sure not to burn them. Set them aside. Add the coconut finally and in lower heat roast, cool and powder. (I use a coffee grinder).
3. In a big pot that will fit the rice and the vegetables, heat oil add the chopped shallots and saute till translucent.
4. Add in the chopped tomatoes and saute till it is soft.
5. Now add the vegetables and saute for a minute or two. Add the sambhar powder and give a good mix.
6. Add in the tamrind pulp and 1 cup more of water and let them cook till the vegetables are almost cooked.
7. Add salt and the rice and dal mixture and mix well.
8. Add the powdered masala and mix it into the rice. Keep the rice a little bit watery because it solidifies as it cools.
   
9. 
   
10. Now in a small sauce pan, heat a bit more oil or ghee and add the seasonings and the peanuts and pour it over the rice.



Serve with some roasted potatoes or potato chips.

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