Glorious Rice

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The quantity mentioned below is enough for 3-4 people.

<h2>Bisi BELa Bhath / huLi</h2>


<u>poruLkaL (Ingredients) </u>
* kathirikkay (egg plant/brinjal) - 1/4 (big) or 2 (small)
* thakkaaLi (tomato) - 4
* chinna vengaayam (small onion) - 10
* uruLai kizhangu (potato) - 1
* carret - 1 (big)
* Beans - 10
* pachchai miLagaay (green chilly) - 4
* sivappu miLagaay (red chilly) - 10
* (optional) pattai, sOmbu, Elakkay, Kraambu, poondu - little in each for masaalaa
* kothamalli virai (dhaniyaa) - 8 tbl spoons
* kadalai paruppu (split peas) - 6 tbl spoons
* thEngaay (coconut) - 3 paththai
* arisi (rice) - 1 1/2 cup
* thuvaram paruppu (thoor dhaal) - 1/2 cup
* puLi - chinna elumbichai aLavu
* kadugu (thaaLikka)
* salt
* manjaL podi
* perungaayam
* mundhiri (cashew nuts) - 10
* karuvEppilai (kari paththa)
* koththamalli (cilantro)
* Oil (preferably nalleNNey/sesame oil)
* Ghee

<u>sey muRai (Process) </u>
For the masaalaa :
* Dry fry dhaniyaa, kadalai paruppu, miLagaay vatral, pattai, sOmbu, Elakkaay, kraambu, poondu, little perungaayam in a
pan.
* In a mixie make a fine powder of these mixes
* Cut coconut (2 paththai) into small pieces and shred it in mixie (into fine shredded coconut)
* Cut the other 1 paththai into very small pieces (pallu-pallaaga)

* Soak thuvaram paruppu in hot water for about 10 minutes
* Rinse rice and mix rice & thuvaram paruppu.
* Add a little manjaL podi & salt
* Add water and cook the combo in Pressure cooker
(Imporant note: Keep more/less water depending on how you like your BisiBELaa to be)

* Dissolve puLi in water
(Note: Crush puLi in water VERY WELL : atleast for 3-4 minutes. puLiyai kaiyaal nanraaga pisaindhu thanneeril
karaikkavum)
* Heat puLi thanneer till it boils

* Cut all vegetables into BIGGER pieces
(Note: If you cut the vegetables into small pieces, it will get dissolved, and nothing will be 'visible' in the final product)

* In a big pan, add 10 tbl spoons of Oil
* Add kadugu.
* Add 2 miLagaay vaTral, perungaayam, little manjaL podi
* Add all cut vegetables and fry in medium flames
* Once the vegetables are half cooked, Add puLi thanneer
* Add salt, manjaL podi, perungaayam, karuvEppilai and pachchai miLagaay
* Close the pan with a plate and let the vegetables be cooked in high flames
* Once the vegetables are cooked, set the gas to low flames
* Add the masaalaa powder
* Add the coconut (but shredded and the finely chopped)
(Note: At this time, you can see that the solution will turn into a good thick kuzhambu)
* Add the cokked rice/paruppu combination to the kuzhambu.
(Note: If you like your bisi bElaa to be little watery, you can even (s)mash the cooked rice/paruppu a little, before adding it to
the kuzhambu)
* Add 5 spoons of ghee and in low flames, mix the rice well
* Fry mundhiri in ghee till it becomes golden color

* Garnish Bisi BELa Bhath with cashew nuts & finely chopped koththamalli

Note:
* Like vaangi bhath, for BisiBELaa pachchadi, appalam & karuvadaam go well with it.
* Depending upon your taste, you can try out different vegetables like, poosani kaay, spring onions, cauli flower etc...
* If you don't like strong masaalaa taste, you can skip pattai,sOmbu, poondu etc...


Enjoy and let me know if you like it...

- Venky Narayanan
VenkyNarayanan@hotmail.com