carrot fried rice / healthy carrot recipes

Carrot Fried Rice / Healthy Carrot Rice

Today´s dish is a very simple and routine recipe that comes in very handy during a busy schedule. Carrot rice - though it is very easy and simple to prepare, yet it is very healthy and tasty dish that can be served in no time. We all know that carrots are very good for all ages, but do we know that carrots help in reducing the risk of cancer? They are also very helpful for our skin. Carrots which are rich in Vitamin A protects our skin from harmful sun rays. It also helps prevents wrinkles on our skin and keeps us young with an even skin tone. Carrots are also said to help in the growth of the hair. So friends, do not take carrots for granted. Always have them in plenty and keep yourself refreshed.

I always include carrots wherever possible. I have carrots in all the rice varieties possible like palak rice and in curries as well. I have included carrots in curries like mixed veg curry. Carrots are always present in my upmas as well. Whenever carrots are available at cheaper prices, I bring them in big quantities to make carrot kheer, carrot halwa, carrot cake, etc..,.This carrot rice is also such a dish that was prepared when I had loads of carrots waiting for me in the fridge.

I liked the flavour of this carrot rice which is very unique and flavourful with the mild spices that are added to this dish. Not too spicy nor too mild, perfect with the crunchiness of the capsicum and cashews. I especially love the colour of the dish - a lovely saffron colour with hints of green. Umm..lovely!

Preparation

Cook rice until fluffy and allow it to cool. Keep aside. You can also use any leftover rice to prepare this yummy dish. Grate the carrots and keep aside. Add oil and ghee in a pan.

When the oil is hot enough, add mustard and cumin seeds.

When they crackle, add broken cashew pieces. You can also add whole cashews, but I like small pieces of cashews in each bite. 

When the cashews turn light brown in colour, add onion and green chillies.

Sauté until the onions turn pink in colour. Now put in the ginger paste. I did not include garlic with ginger. But if you like the flavour of garlic, then you can add garlic as well. Cook until the raw smell of ginger vanishes.

Put in the grated carrots along with turmeric and salt.

Mix well and cook covered for 3-4 minutes. Now add black pepper powder and Garam masala powder.

Mix well. Throw in the chopped capsicum pieces.

Mix it well and sauté till the capsicum pieces are cooked but still retain their crunchiness. Now add the cooked cooled rice and gently mix the rice. Take care not to mash the rice. Mix very carefully. 

Check for salt and spice and switch off the flame. Serve hot with any raita or dal tadka or dal makhani. I have served with dal tadka and it perfectly went off for my man´s lunch box.

Ingredients

Grated Carrots  4 cups

Onion  1 small

Ghee  2 tsp

Oil  1 tbsp

Mustard seeds  1/2 tsp

Cumin seeds  1 tsp

Cashews  2 tbsp. ( or more as per your liking )

Green chilies  2

Ginger paste  2 tsp

Turmeric powder  1/2 tsp

Salt to taste

Black pepper powder  1 tsp

Garam masala powder  1/2 tsp

Capsicum  1 

Rice  1 1/2 cups

Method

1. Cook rice and allow to cool. Grate carrots and set aside.
2. Heat oil and ghee in a pan.
3. Do the tempering with mustard and cumin seeds.
4. When they splutter, add cashews.
5. Once they turn golden in colour, add onion and green chillies.
6. When the onions turn pink, add ginger paste.
7. After 2 minutes, add grated carrots, turmeric and salt. 
8. Cook covered for 3-4 minutes. 
9. Add black pepper powder and Garam masala powder.
10. After sautéing for 2 minutes, add capsicum. 
11. Once the capsicum is cooked ( retaining its crunchiness ), add the cooked rice and mix well.
12. Check for seasoning and switch off the flame. 
13. Serve with raita or any dal variety.

Notes

• You can also include grated beetroots.
• Basmathi rice can be used for the preparation of this healthy carrot fried rice. 
• You can add eggs also to make it more flavourful and tasty. 
• Addition of Garam masala powder gives a unique flavour which is neither too strong not too light. 
• Cashews go very well with this carrot rice, so do not skip on them.