Saturday, August 13, 2011

Green Beans Rice

Have you ever felt like you don't want to do anything? Today was such a day for me. Didn't want to cook or clean or go out either. Whenever I say I am bored to cook, there is always the same reply. "Let's go out to eat then". As I said, I was in the least of the mood to get dressed and go out to eat. I opened the refrigerator and saw a bag of green beans that I had bought other day. Necessity to use up that green beans lead to this dish.
Rice with any kind of vegetables is a no brainer for a South Indian. Because, you mix veggies with some rice and add Vangibhath Powder, add some lime juice and you are done. One pot meal is ready in no time. But, I had no powder on hand and I came up with a different variation of spice powder without roasting any spices. Result was a delicious one pot meal. If you use frozen green beans, you save the time on chopping it too. Anything to make a lazy day lazier...

One year back - Corn Salad, Carrot Raisin Bread
Ingredients:
Rice - 2 Cups uncooked (Sona Masoori or Basmati)
Green Beans - Chopped about 4 cups (2 pounds before cleaning - See Notes)
Oil - 4 TBSP
Salt - to taste
Red Chillies - 3 broken into pieces
Curry leaves - few
Mustard - 1 tsp
Cilantro - chopped 4 TBSP
Lime - 1
Shredded coconut - 1/4 cup - 1/2 cup
Peanuts - 3 TBSP

To make a powder:
Roasted peanuts - 2 TBSP (dry roast peanuts and then use or use already roasted ones)
Cumin - 1 tsp
Black pepper - 1 tsp
Red Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp or to taste
Cloves - 1/2 tsp (not powdered)
Coriander seeds - 10 - 12
Cinnamon - 1" stick not too wide

Method:
Cook rice in enough water with a pinch of salt. When completely done, fluff with a fork and let it cool. In a pan, heat oil. When hot, add mustard seeds. When they splutter, add broken red chillies, curry leaves, peanuts. When peanuts are toasted, add chopped green beans. Sprinkle some salt and mix. Let it cook.
Meanwhile, make the spice powder ready. When the beans are cooked and tender to bite, add the spice powder, coconut and stir. Lower the heat so that the raw smell of spices mellow a bit.  Add the cooled rice and mix it all very well. Adjust the salt and add chopped cilantro. Keep it on low heat for couple of minutes with lid closed. Turn off the heat. Squeeze the lime juice on the rice and mix well. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes:
You could use french cut frozen green beans too. If you don't want to make the spice powder, you could use red chilli powder mixed with some garam masala and grind that with roasted peanuts. But, garam masala has different proportions of the spices so it will taste differently.

Have a great weekend.

12 comments:

  1. Absolutely a different rice.. Nice twist adding peanuts.. Like ur spice powder..

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  2. the spices and nuts must have made it so flavorful. i love the spice combo here!

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  3. wow very delicious rice,tempting version...

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  4. This looks wonderful. Rice and vegetables and spices is one of the things I love the most. I've been craving it of late, to be honest. And thinking that making a big pot of it to take for lunches would be a good thing. This one has moved to something I will be trying very soon. Thanks so much!

    Jen

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  5. Truly Champa, Vangibhath powder is sooo versatile ! especially on these no-mood-to-cook days ! looks good.. ! I admire the light in your pix, and the lovely window / light source which make the pix look soooo alive !

    Cheers
    Kalyani
    New Event: Fasting Foods – Vrat ka Khaana Special
    Event: healthy Lunchbox ideas – Carrots – all this August

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  6. Loved the spice mix..flavorful rice

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  7. Wow wat a tempting clicks,makes me hungry now...

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  8. wonderful post... Love the coconut in the recipe

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  9. I have been there Champa when I don't feel like doing anything at all :)

    The green beans rice looks great, wonderful spices and everything mixed together :)

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  10. First time here and loved reading through ur posts. Absoultely loved the spices used in the rice..

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  11. Can't wait to try this recipe! Thanks for sharing;-)

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