Tomato Bath - Version 1

I always look for recipes...

I always collect recipes...

If anybody makes anything interesting, I ask them for recipe..

I watch cooking episodes tirelessly online...

and yet I claim that I’m least interested in cooking...

So why do I do all the above? 

The answer is that I’m an enthusiastic eater, not an enthusiastic cook! My main motivation behind experimenting in the kitchen is eating good food..  or rather the lack of having good restaurants around.. My cooking drive diminishes the moment I set foot in India..

I shouldn’t complain living in the Bay area.. but c’mon how can a street vendor in India make better chats than here..? how come nobody gets that THE Masala Dosa flavor from India...? bakery items.. no where close!! Does any restaurant owner care to learn what they are missing? seriously I can make better dosas at home...  where is THAT Dosa which would slide off a plate with so much grease in it and where is this Dosa, which wouldn’t even come off the plate... *sigh* 

So until those kind of restaurants open up, I’ll be a trooper and experiment in my kitchen...

Coming to the recipe.. 

This particular recipe I got from the Oggarane Dabbi cooking series which is on youtube. 

It is a healthy one pot meal which is very very simple and very very tasty, close to the ones you’d get in restaurants in India. One of the restaurant owners made it at the show.. 

Ingredients

Basmati Rice - 2 cups (Original Recipe uses Jeera Rice - I’ve seen this variety in Indian Stores, but never tried it)

Water - Little less than 3 cups

Tomato - 3-4 medium

Onion - 1 big cut length wise

Cilantro, Methi leaves, Pudina/Mint Leaves - all together a big handful

Hidikida bele(This I am assuming is Avare kaalu(Surti Papdi Lilva)) - handful. If using frozen, add directly. If using dried ones, soak them for at least 6 hrs before putting it in the cooker. In the picture above, I've used peas. 

Chakke/Cinnamon Stick - 1 inch piece

Lavanga/Cloves - 4-5

Elakki/Cardamom - 4-5

Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp

Oil - 2 tbsp

Ghee - 2 tbsp

Method

Wash and soak Basmati rice in water 

Cook whole tomatoes in a pot of water and mash them nicely. Alternatively you could put them later as mentioned below.

In a pressure pan add oil+ghee. Add the whole spices - cinnamon, cardamom, cloves. Add onions saute for a while. Add 3 kinds of leaves. Add mashed tomatoes(or put cut tomatoes and cook till they are all mashed up). Add Avare Kaalu. Add garam masala, salt. Add soaked rice and water. Pressure cook for 2 whistles. Let it cool and fluff it with a fork.

Enjoy with some raita or just like that!!

Recipe Source - From Oggarane Dabbi on Youtube