Masale Bhat

Serving for -2

Ingredients

1 cup rice - Wash and soak in water for 30 minutes

1/2 cup frozen green peas

4 green chilies - finely chopped

2 cloves of garlic - minced

5-6 curry leaves

1/2 tsp mustard seeds

pinch of asafoetida

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

3/4 tsp grated jaggery

1 tsp lemon juice

2 cups hot water

salt to taste

cilantro for garnishing

To make Goda Masala

2 tsp dry grated coconut

1 tsp sesame seeds

1 tsp coriander seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

5-6 black peppercorns

3-4 cloves

1 bay leaf

1 black cardamom

4 green cardamom

1 inch cinnamon stick

1 tsp oil

Dry roast grated coconut and sesame seeds. Keep it aside. Heat 1 tsp oil in a pan and roast all spices separately. Let them cool down little bit. Grind all roasted spices to make masala powder. Add pinch of asafoetida and 1/4 tsp nutmeg powder (optional) to it and mix well. Now, goda masala is ready.

Procedure

• Heat oil in heavy bottom pan. Add mustard seeds, asafoetida, green chilies and curry leaves. Let them crackle. Add minced garlic and saute for few seconds.
• Add soaked rice and mix well. Add turmeric powder and goda masala (ground masala). Saute for 2 minutes. Add hot water, lemon juice, grated jaggery and salt to taste. Mix well and cover the pan. Let rice cook on medium heat. It will take around 15-20 minutes. When the rice is cooked, add frozen green peas. Mix gently. Let rice simmer on low heat for 5 minutes.
• Add some ghee, fresh shredded coconut and chopped cilantro while serving rice. Serve hot with raita.