Pulihora / Tamarind rice

Ingredients:

Rice : 1 cup (uncooked)

Tamarind : big lemon size

green chillies : 3

dry red chillies: 6

Chana dal : 2 tbsp

Urad dal : 2 tbsp

peanuts : 2 tbsp

cashews : 1 tsp

Mustard : 1 tsp

cumin : 1 tsp

turmeric: 1/2 tsp

Oil : 1 tbsp

Curry leaves : few

Wash and cook the rice in such a way that the rice grains do not stick to each other, i.e they look fluffy. (Add one tsp oil or 2 -3 drops of lime juice to the rice pot while cooking to achieve this). Now cool it by spreading it widely in a large bowl. In the mean while wash and cook the tamarind and extract its jpulp. Do not add more water to tamarind while boiling. Just add little water extracting the thick pulp. Now slit the green chillies length wise .

Take a pan and pour the oil. Now roast the cashews and keep them aside. To the remaining oil add the mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add the chana dal, urad dal, peanuts and cumin in the same order and see that they do not get burnt. Now add the green chillies, dry red chillies and curry leaves along with the turmeric. Add the tamarind pulp and bring it to boil. Also add the salt . Switch off the stove when the oil starts oozing out from the mixture. Pour this mixture over the cooled rice and mix well . Garnish with cashewnuts and serve.

Tastes better if served after some time as the rice absorbs all the flavours of the mixture. Add more green chillies if u want to increase the hotness of the dish.