Green Rice

I can't think of any other ingredient being as versatile as Rice.  You can make rice out of any ingredient. It can be some spice or some vegetable or some greens. Rice is like water. It can take any flavor and become one with that flavoring ingredient. Here is another concoction that I made to make a one pot meal packed with greens. A very good one I should add.

Ingredients:
Spinach - half of 10 Oz bag or a small bunch chopped roughly
Cilantro / Coriander leaves - 1/2 a bunch or about a cup chopped
Mint leaves - 4 TBSP (optional. I had them so used it)
Red Onion - 2 small cut into 1/2" strips
Oil - 4 TBSP
Rice - 1 1/2 cups uncooked (I used basmati)
Frozen green peas - 2 cups
Garlic - 3 pods peeled but kept whole
Green chillies - 15 or per taste stalk removed but kept whole (you could use hot sauce in its place if you wish)
Almonds - 1/4 - 1/3 cup
Black pepper - whole 1 tsp or per taste
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste

Method:
In a saucepan, bring 3 cups of water to a boil. When it is still coming to a boil, in a skillet, toast the rice till pale in color. You don't need to brown it. Rinse and add it to the boiling water with a pinch of salt. Add frozen green peas to it and close the lid and let it cook. When the rice is cooked, fluff it with a fork and spread it on a plate to cool.

When it is cooling, in the same skillet, toast almonds. When almonds are half way toasted (about 3 minutes), add green chillies, garlic and pepper corns. Keep stirring till all of them get toasted. Garlic and green chillies might get couple of dark spots and that is alright. When almonds are nicely toasted, turn off the heat and add cumin seeds. Keep moving the skillet and the residual heat will toast the cumin seeds. Keep all these aside to cool.

In the same skillet, take oil. When hot, add chopped onions. Sprinkle some salt and let it cook. When onions are cooked, add chopped spinach and continue to cook till they are done.
Meanwhile, take all the toasted ingredients in a blender. Add coriander leaves / cilantro and mint (if using) to it and grind. You can add about 2 - 4 TBSP of water to aid the blender. Make a thick paste out of it. When spinach is cooked, add this paste to the skillet. Mix well. Add cooled rice and green peas mixture and mix gently. Check for the salt and add it if required. Let it stay on very low heat for 3 - 5 minutes with lid covered. Turn off the heat. Serve hot or warm or at room temperature with some raita or plain yogurt. You could garnish it with some fried onions or some toasted almonds if desired.

Enjoy!! Pin It