Cauliflower Channa Rice

Cauliflower Channa Rice

My kids like flavoured rice for their lunch box. So I try various versions of flavoured rice items. Its just a mix and match that we generally do with our dresses. Similarly I try to mix different vegetables in various combinations and experiment with them.

This cauliflower rice is also one such experiment which was accepted by my family. This is a simple flavoured rice which is very easy to prepare with very common ingredients that are easily available in our kitchens.

It does require some preparation time though.

This has the goodness of cauliflower which is rich in Vitamin C. This is a flowering vegetable which is healthy for heart. And then it has channa which is rich in fibre and low in cholesterol. And finally we have mint which aids in digestion.

Method :

Put a pressure cooker on flame. Once hot, pour in oil and ghee. Add jeera.

When they splutter add broken cashews.

When they change in colour, add sliced onion, slit green chillies and ginger garlic paste. Fry for a minute or two.

Add chopped mint leaves.

When they become mushy and a nice aroma fills your kitchen, add cauliflower and soaked channa. Fry for a minute.

Add chopped tomato and turmeric powder. Give it a nice mix and cook for two minutes.

Add washed rice and mix well.

Add garam masala powder and salt.

Mix well and add water. Cover the cooker with the whistle on and cook until 3-4 whistles. Cool and transfer to a wide plate so that the rice doesn't sit at the bottom of the cooker. Mix well with a fork so that it the rice doesn't get sticky but gets grainy. But be careful not to break the rice. Serve with any raita or any gravy curry. Plain curd will also do.

Ingredients :

Oil 2 tsp
Ghee 3 tsp
Jeera 1 tsp
Cashews handful ( broken into small pieces )
Onion 1 ( sliced )
Green Chillies 3 ( slit length wise )
Ginger Garlic Paste 2 tsp
Fresh Mint leaves 1 cup ( finely chopped )
Cauliflower florets 2 cups
Soaked Channa 1 cup
Tomato 2 ( diced or chopped )
Turmeric powder 1 tsp
Rice 1 1/2 cups
Garam Masala Powder 2 tsp
Salt to taste

Preparation :

1. Heat oil and ghee in a pressure cooker.
2. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter.
3. Add broken cashews and fry until they turn to light brown in colour.
4. Add sliced onion, slit green chillies and ginger garlic paste. Fry for a minute,
5. Add chopped mint leaves and fry until a nice aroma comes.
6. Add cauliflower florets and channa and mix well.
7. Add chopped tomato and turmeric powder and cook for 2 minutes.
8. Add washed rice and give it a nice mix.
9. Add garam masala powder and salt. Mix well and add sufficient water for the rice to cook. I added approximately 2 1/2 cups of water.
10. Cover with the lid with the whistle on.
11. Cook until 3-4 whistles. Remove from flame and allow to cool.
12. Once cool transfer to a wide plate and mix gentle with a fork for the rice to become grainy.
13. Serve with any raita or gravy curry or plain curd.

Notes :

1. Instead of channa, sprouted channa can also be added which is meant to be very healthy.
2. Any kind of vegetables like carrot, beetroot, potato, beans, etc,. can also be added.
3. Peas ( dried or fresh ) can be added along with channa or in place of channa.
4. A handful of methi leaves will enhance the flavour.
5. Raw masalas can be added instead of garam masala powder.