Mamidikaya annam / Mango rice

Ingredients :

Raw rice : 1 cup

Raw green mango grated : 1 cup

green chillies: 4

dry red chillies : 4

Chana dal : 2 tsp

Urad dal : 2 tspsp

Mustard seeds : 1 tsp

cumin : 1 tsp

peanuts : 2 tbsp

curry leaves : few

oil : 2 tsp

turmeric : 1/4 tsp

salt : 3/4 tsp

cashewnuts : for garnish (optional)

Wash and cook the rice and spread it in a big bowl to cool. See that the rice grains do not stick to each other. In the meanwhile heat a pan. Pour the oil into it and add the mustard seeds and allow them to crackle. Now add the chana dal, urad dal and cumin in the same order and keep mixing. Add the peanuts and turmeric. Add the slit green chillies, curry leaves and broken dry red chillies too. Now add the grated mango and cook for sometime until the water evaporates. Add the salt also. Switch off the stove.

Mix this with the cooled rice and serve garnished with cashewnuts.

Nimmakaya annam / Lemon rice

Ingredients:

Raw Rice : 1 cup

lime or lemon : 1

green chillies: 3

dry red chillies : 3

mustard seeds: 1 tsp

Chana dal : 2 tsp

Urad dal: 2 tsp

Peanuts: 2 tbsp

cumin : 1 tsp

oil: 1 tbsp

turmeric: 1/4 tsp

curry leaves : few

salt : 1/2 tsp

Cook the rice till it is done such that the grains do not stick to each other. (You can add one tsp of oil or 2 to 3 drops of lemon juice while cooking to achieve this). Spread the rice in a large bowl and allow it to cool.

In the mean while squeeze the lime juice and keep aside. Cut the green chillies lenghtwise. Now take a pan and pour the oil. After it becomes hot, add the mustard seeds and let them splutter. Keep adding the chana dal, urad dal, cumin and groundnuts in the same order. Now add the green chillies, red chillies and curry leaves. Add the turmeric and switch off the stove. Now add the lemon juice and salt and pour this mixture over the rice and mix well. Adjust the salt and serve garnished.

Note : Add the lime juice after switching off the stove other wise u will get a bitter taste.

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.