Spinach Pulao / Spinach Rice

About the Recipe:

Spinach is one of wonderful green-leafy vegetable often recognized as one of the functional foods for its wholesome nutritional, antioxidants and anti-cancer composition. Its tender, crispy, dark-green leaves are one of the favorite ingredients of chefs all around the planet. Now, let us get to know how to prepare a simple and healthy spinach pulao / Rice

Preparation Time: 15 mins (excluding soaking time)

Cook Time: 10-15 mins

Serves: 2

Ingredients needed:

1.Boiled Rice: 2 Cups

2.Spinach: 1 Bunch

3.Onion: 1 Medium

4.Green Peas: a handful

5.Kitchen King Masala/Garam Masala Powder: 1 tsp

6.Salt: as required

7.Ghee: 1 tsp (optional)

To Grind:

1.Tomato: 1 Medium

2.Ginger: 1 inch piece

3.Garlic: 2-3 nos

4.Green Chilly: 1

4.Coconut: 2 tsp

For the seasoning:

1.Cardamom: 2 nos

2.Cloves: 2 nos

3.Cinnamon: ½ inch piece

4.Bay leaf: 1

5.Cashew nuts: a few

5.Cumin Seeds: 1 tsp

Preparation:

1.Wash and chop spinach finely

2.Chop Onions lengthwise

3.Gring the ingredients mentioned under “To Grind” section with a little water to a fine paste

Method:

1.Heat Oil in a pan, add the ingredients mentioned under the “seasoning” section one by one

2.Then add chopped onions and saute it till it becomes soft

3.Now add the grounded paste and cook till it becomes a dry paste

4.Add the chopped spinach and cook till all the moisture evaporates.Keep the flame in medium till the spinach cooks the turn the flame to high so that the moisture evaporates easily.

5.Then add kitchen king masala, required salt and fresh peas

6.Finally add the boiled rice and switch off the flame. Mix everything gently

7.The Spinach Pulao is ready to be served with tomato raitha

Note:

1. I have used cooked basmati rice. You can also use the normal cooked rice too

2.It is very important to cook the spinach well till it leaves all of its moisture before adding the rice to it

Horse gram Idly/ Horse gram Dosa - Kollu Idly/ Kollu Dosa

About the recipe:

Horse gram may not be inviting by the sound of it but its qualities are undeniably wonderful. Horse gram has the highest calcium content among pulses and is one of the richest vegetarian sources of protein, low in fat and high in carbohydrate content, low in lipid and sodium content, and its slow digestible starch make ideal for diabetic and obesity patients.

Translations:

English: Horse Gram

Tamil: Kollu

Hindi: Kulthi / Hulthi
Telugu: Ulavalu

Now, we will get to know how to prepare a simple recipe using horse gram

Ingredients required:

1.  Horse Gram: 2/3 Cup*

2.  Idly Rice: 2 Cup

3.   Urad Dal: ¼ Cup

4.  Methi seeds/ Fenugreek seeds: 1 tsp

5.  Salt: as required

* 1 Cup: 200 gms

Preparation:

1.Wash and soak all the ingredients separately (except salt) for 5 to 6 hours

2.Then grind each soaked ingredient separately to a smooth paste and mix them together in a large bowl

3.The batter should not be very thin or very thick. It should have a pouring consistency (similar to the normal idly dosa batter)

3.Add salt and mix the batter well , leave it for fermentation

Method:

1.  After fermentation mix the batter well and check for salt

2.  For making idly, grease the idly plate with oil and fill in each mould with a scoop of batter

3.  Steam for 7 to 20 minutes

4.  Soft and spongy Horse gram idlies are ready to be served

5.  For making dosas, heat a dosa tawa and pour a ladle full of batter and spread it ( same as the normal dosas-mix little water for making dosas if the batter is thick)

5.  Drizzle a spoon of oil and let it cook

6.  Flip the dosa to the other side and serve the hot crispy dosas

Note:

1.  It is important to grind each ingredient separately

2.  Grind the Horse gram first to a smooth paste, then urad dala nd finally the idly rice

3.  The fermentation time depends upon your climate

4.  The given quantity will make around 30 medium idlis , you can double the quantity if you want to make more idlis