Masoor dal Pulao (Red Lentil Rice)
(from Nandini’s recipe box)
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 20 minutes
Serves 3 people
Categories: Rice recipies, daal recipies
Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati or any long grained rice, soaked in water for 10-15 minutes
- 1/2 cup red lentil (masoor dal - you can use more if you don't mind the final texture mushy. Tastes great though!)
- 1 tsp cumin / fennel seeds
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 medium tomato
- 2-3 spring onions, sliced thinly
- 1 bay leaf
- 2-3 each of cloves and cardamom
- pinch of turmeric
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced (optional)
- 1-2 green chillies, thinly sliced (or as per taste)
- 1 inch ginger, peeled and grated
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 2-1/2 cups coconut milk (optional. Just replace it with vegetable stock/water instead)
- salt to taste
- few sprigs of cilantro for garnish
- fresh lemon juice to taste (optional)
Directions
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In a skillet in 1 tsp oil (or butter) saute the cumin, bay leaf, cloves, cardamom, garlic, chillies, ginger along with onion and salt.
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Once the onions get soft add the tomato along with turmeric and garam masala. Saute for another 1-2 minutes
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Add the lentils and rice. Give it a mix and saute for another min or two until the rice gets aromatic/translucent.
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Add the coconut milk/water/stock. Mix well.
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Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes or until the rice is cooked
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Fluff it gently. I sometimes add frozen peas to this mix too towards the end of cooking. You can add more vegetables if you want to.
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Now to add some color and more flavor. Garnish it with spring onions and cilantro. Even mint leaves go v well with this. I squeeze some lemon to this rice for couple of reasons. Of course for the flavor. It also helps to reduce the sodium level and third – most importantly – the citrus helps to absorb the iron present in the lentils. So whenever I cook with lentils, I add lemon juice to the dish.