masaledar Masoor Rice

Item - Masoor Rice

Serves - 4

Ingredients -

• Rice (1 cup)
• Masoor (whole masoor, not the orange dal, 3/4 cup)
• Wash & mix the dal & rice and soak in water for at least 30 minutes
• Onion (1, coarsely chopped)
• Tomato (1, coarsely chopped)
• Green chillies (3-4, cut into half)
• Ginger (1/2 inch, chopped coarsely)
• Make a coarse paste of ginger & chillies, preferably using a mortar & pestle
• Chilli powder (1 teaspoon)
• Turmeric powder (1 teaspoon)
• Garam masala (1 teaspoon)
• Curry leaves (6-7)
• Jeera (aka - cumin seeds) (1 teaspoon)
• Bay leaf (1)
• Salt as per taste
• Oil (alternatively oil + ghee) (1 table spoon)

Method -

• In a pressure cook, pour the oil (or oil + ghee), let it heat till it releases a fragrant aroma, add the curry leaves, jeera and bay leaf.
• Add in the onion & tomato and keep stirring on high flame.
• After about 2 minutes, add in the ginger & chilli paste, chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt & lastly the garam masala.
• Add the rice & dal with the water, add more water if required. (masoor needs more water & heat to cook as compared to the rice) 
• Pressure cook for 5-6 whistles, 5 -7 minutes on low flame.
• Serve hot garnished with coriander & a side of plain curd or dahi kadi.