Tamarind Rice From Char's Kitchen!

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 cup long-grain basmati rice, cleaned and washed
• 2 teaspoons tamarind juice
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seed
• 2 red chilies
• 1 bay leaf (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon jaggery (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 4 stalks of fresh curry leaves, washed and torn
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 tablespoon plain peanuts, broken
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups water

Recipe

• 1 heat a skillet on medium flame.
• 2 pour in the water, salt, turmeric powder and stir in the rice very gently.
• 3 bring to a boil.
• 4 lower flame, partially cover, and cook till all the water has been absorbed by the rice.
• 5 don't overcook the rice.
• 6 keep aside.
• 7 heat oil in a frying pan on medium flame.
• 8 toss in the cumin and mustard seeds.
• 9 allow to sizzle and splutter.
• 10 once they stop, add the red chillies, curry leaves, bay leaf and peanuts.
• 11 stir-fry briefly for 10-15 seconds until the nuts turn lightly brown and the curry leaves are aromatic.
• 12 remove from heat.
• 13 add this to the rice alongwith the tamarind juice and jaggery, if using.
• 14 mix gently.
• 15 sprinkle a few drops of water on top, then cover the container with a lid and allow to cook on simmer for 8 minutes, stirring once in between.
• 16 this will help to make all the awesome flavours of the seasoning and the tamarind juice blend well into the cooked rice.
• 17 remove from heat.
• 18 serve hot.