This is a very simple rice dish prepared by a number of communities in India, especially in the state of Maharashtra. Tasty and nutritious it is very simple to digest it is loved by all. The goodness of green moong as a lentil choice brings along the nutrition of vitamins, proteins and good carbohydrates. This rice dish is highly recommended for children and even ailing elders. It is, along with coconut rice, part of the first meal that many Indian children are introduced to.
Ingredients:
1 cup of green moong dal or any dal of your choice
2 cups plain rice/basmati rice
6 cardamoms
5 cloves
1 stick cinnamon
2 medium sized, finely sliced onions
2 tsp ginger and garlic paste
8 medium sized tomatoes
Few coriander leaves
Few mint leaves
Few curry leaves
4 green chillies (slit in the middle)
2 tsp. turmeric powder
Around 2 cups of water
Oil
Ghee
Salt to taste
Popular Accompaniments:
The green moong rice preparation goes well with raitas, pickles and papads of your choice. It is commonly eaten along with butter milk or plain or flavored yogurt. You could replace the moon dal with any other lentil or legume and even sprouted greens. This rice preparation is a must have at many Indian festival feasts. The texture could be adjusted to a grainy or mashie constituency depending on the age group and the reason the meal is being provided. The rice does very well in picnic lunches as well as when you need to commute over long distances.
Preparation:
Wash the rice, drain it and keep it aside.
Cook the green moong dal along with a tsp of turmeric powder.
Do not overcook it.
Keep the cooked dal water aside as it will be required later.
Main Cooking:
In a pan, fry the finely sliced onions till golden brown.
Add cinnamon as well as cardamoms to the fried onions.
Then add curry leaves, mint leaves, slit green chilies and some of the chopped coriander leaves.
Add the garlic and ginger paste and fry for about a minute.
Add the chopped tomatoes, drained rice and fry this mixture for 2 minutes.
Mix in the cooked dal and three cups of water as well as the cooked dal water.
Add salt and cook for at least 10 to 12 minutes till the rice is cooked.
Add the remaining chopped coriander leaves to the rice.
