Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Achari Jeera Soya Rice

Jeera rice is a staple north indian main course; a delicious yet easy to cook variety rice. But isn't variety the spice of life, so I decided to add a twist to an otherwise non-spicy jeera rice. 


Ingredients:
  • Basmati or any rice : 1 cup (Soak it for ~ 30 mts at least)
  • Soya Chunks          : ~ 10 (I used the round variety; soaked in water)
  • Jeera                      : 2 tspn 
  • Potato                    : 1 big (Diced into cubes) -- Optional
  • Green Chillie          :1-2 slit (optional)
  • Garlic                     : 1-2 pods sliced
  • Onion                     : 1 big (sliced length-wise)
  • Curd                      : 2 tbspn
  • Achari (Pickle) Masala : 1-2 tspn (per your spice preference)
  • Turmeric powder   : 1 tspn
  • Coriander leaves    : Freshly chopped for garnishing            
  • Salt                        : Per taste 
  • Oil                         : 2-4 tspn (2 tbspn)
  • Bay leaf                 : 1-2 small

Preparation:  (20 mts)

  • In a cooker or a mud pot (like the one I used), add oil. 
  • As it gets warm, add a bay leaf. Then add Jeera
  • As soon as jeera turns brown, add garlic. Saute for some time and then add onion. Fry till its golden
  • Add green chillies, potatoes and saute it for some time
  • Add the mix of curd with achari masala (ensure this masala is well mixed with curd)
  • Saute it for a minute or two. 
  • Remove the soya from water and squeeze water. Add these pieces (dice it if rqd) to the above mix
  • Add turmeric powder, salt (regularize as achari masala will also have salt)
  • To this add rice and fry it for a minute
  • Add only enough water to cook such that it is not over boiled (~ 1 cup of soaked rice : 1.5 cups water). Since this will be steam cooked, you can check the water level in between
  • Cover and steam cook. Once in a while, I do stir and check its readiness. Spray water if rqd and allow it to cook
  • Garnish with coriander leaves and remove from fire
Serve it hot with any raita! 

Tip: You could prepare the same with left-over rice too.

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