GARLIC RICE(Filipino style)

I was surfing the web for the flavored rice recipes and that is when I came through this recipe. Garlic is used in wide variety of flavored rice in India. But flavored rice only with garlic…….this made me think twice about its taste. But finally I decided to try. Actually this is a Filipino dish with whole lots of garlic and nothing else. I added a hand full of corn for a different twist. The taste is very awesome and the procedure……very simple. For those who don’t take garlic every day, this is the best way to take more of garlic. Give it a try.
INGREDIENTS

• Rice                             1 cup
• Oil                                2 Tsp
• Garlic cloves             4-5(chopped)
• Sweet corn                2-3 Tsp(optional)
• Salt                              to taste
• Crushed red chilies    1
• Coriander                  2 sprigs(chopped)

PROCEDURE
Cook the rice with 2 cups of water and let the rice cool completely. Any long grain or sticky rice will be fine.
Heat oil in a pan and add the garlic cloves and sweet corn. Fry for a minute. Both of them should not change color. So keep the flame low.
Now add the cooked and cooled rice. Fry for one more minute. Finally add the salt and crushed chilly flakes and chopped coriander. Mix well and serve hot.

TOMATO GRAVY(SIDE DISH FOR ANY FLAVORED RICE)

When you make a hot, flavorful  biryani you will want to make a couple of side dishes. For that reason any flavored rice recipe needs a side dish. Some times you will be running out of time before making the curries or you will want to accompany a light gravy with the heavy biryani. Tomato gravy recipe is the best alternative in such a situation. This is largely served as a side dish with the non veg rice dishes. You can serve it with any rice dish or as a dip for the Indian bread(roti, nan, pulka etc.). Give it a try. The dish contains only tomatoes and spices and nothing else. You will love the ease of making and the taste of it.
INGREDIENTS

• Tomatoes                       5
• Oil                                    2 Tsp
• Whole garam masala  2 Tsp
• Salt                                  to taste
• Sugar                               1 tsp
• Chilly powder                 to taste
• Coriander                        2-3 sprigs
• Garlic                               2-3 cloves

PROCEDURE
Cut the tomatoes into medium chunks.
Heat oil in a pan and add the whole garam masala( cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, shahi jeera, black pepper).
Add the chopped garlic too.
Fry for a minute and add the chopped tomatoes.
Add the salt, sugar. Cover and cook till the tomatoes are soft.
Now add a cup of water. Let the curry boil.
Add the chilly powder.  Now reduce the flame and cover and cook for 15 minutes.
Adjust the water according to your taste. The dish tastes awesome on the gravy side.
Finally add the chopped coriander and serve with any flavored rice.

CHIKKUDUKAYA FRY

Chikkudukayalu, as called in Telugu are the  Indian broad beans. These are rich in protein, folic acid and are high in soluble fiber. Including some kind of beans(green beans, broad beans, soy beans, French beans, kidney beans etc)  in your daily diet, provides your body healthy nutrients, vitamins and a small portion of minerals. Many different recipes can be prepared with these broad beans. Today I give the simple fry recipe with chana dal. 
INGREDIENTS

• Broad beans                1/4 kg
• Chana dal                    2 Tsp
• Onions                          1 small
• Tomato                        1 small
• Salt                               to taste
• Red chilies                   2
• Green chilies               2
• Curry leaves               a few
• Mustard seeds            1/2 tsp
• Urad dal                      1/2 tsp
• Oil                                 3 Tsp

PROCEDURE
Soak the chana dal  for an hour.
Chop the onion and tomato finely.
Roughly chop the chilies.
Cut the beans into 1 inch pieces and cook them. You can just cook in the pressure cooker or microwave till soft.
Heat oil in a pan and add the urad dal,mustard seeds, curry leaves.
Add the red chilies, onions, tomatoes.
Add a bit of salt, cover and cook till onions and tomatoes turn soft.
Now add the cooked beans and green chilies.
Add some more salt and fry for a couple of minutes.
Finally add the soaked chana dal. Cover and cook for a minute.
Mix well and when all the moisture is evaporated serve hot with rice.