Spinach Khichdi

Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/4 cup
• Moong Daal - 1/8 cup
• Spinach (finely chopped ) - 1/2 cup
• Onion (finely chopped) - 1/4 cup
• Peas - 1/4 cup (optional)
• Green Bean - 1/4 cup (optional)
• Dry Red Chili -1
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Turmeric powder - a pinch
• Oil - 1 tsp
• Salt - as per taste
• Water - 2 cup

Directions:

1. Put pressure cooker on medium flame.
2. Add oil and let it warm
3. Add cumin seed and dry red chili
4. As soon as it starts to splutter, add onion, spinach, peas (optional) and beans (optional) 
5. Stir it well for a minute and then add rice, moong daal, turmeric powder and salt
6. Let this cook for 3-4 mintues and then add water
7. Pressure cook this for 10 minutes or 3-4 whistles which ever is early
8. Mix well and then serve Spinach khichdi with papad and mango pickle.

Tips:

• I used frozen spinach, peas and beans and Khichdi tastes same as the one cooked with fresh vegetables. Try fresh vegetables or frozen ones, whichever is convenient for you.
• I used Basmati rice, you can use any rice.

Enjoy
Ani

Plain Rice - traditional style

Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1/2 cup
• Water - 1 cup
• Oil - 1/2 tsp

Direction:

1. Take rice and water in a deep bottom vessel
2. Add oil and mix well
3. Put this on medium-high flame(4-5) for 5 mins
4. Once it starts to boil, reduce the flame, and cover it with lid
5. Allow it to cook on slow flame(2-3) for 10 mins (Don't stir at all!)
6. You will see rice is fully cooked (see image below)
7. Serve hot.

Tips:

• I personally feel this is quick and tastes better than the ones cooked in rice cooker. Try this once.

Kadhi Chawal

Ingredients:

• Besan -  2 tsp
• Curd(sour) - 6 tsp
• Panch Phoran - 1 tsp
• Onion (finely chopped) - 1/8 cup
• Garlic (finely chopped) - 1 pod 
• Ginger (finely chopped) - 1/2 tsp  
• Green chili - 1
• Oil - 1 tsp
• Turmeric - a pinch
• Salt - as per taste
• Water - 1 cup

Directions:

1. Heat pan on medium flame, add oil.
2. When oil gets warm, add green chili and panch phoran.
3. As soon as it starts to splutter, add finely chopped ginger and garlic.
4. After a minute, add onion and stir well.
5. Cover it with a lid and let it cook for 5-7 minutes or until it turns translucent.
6. Meanwhile, prepare besan-curd mix by adding besan, yogurt, water, turmeric and salt in a bowl and mix well.
7. Once onion is nicely cooked, pour this mix in the pan and let it cook for another 5 mins.
8. Serve hot with plain rice.

Tips:

• If Kadhi becomes thick, add more water to have a flowing consistency.
• Add 1/2 tsp tamarind paste or tamarind in the besan-curd mix to give a sour taste, if you don't have sour curd.

Enjoy Kadhi Chawal!
Ani

Rooh Afza - refreshing drink

Ingredients:

• Rooh Afza - 1.5 tsp (Indian store)
• Ice cubes - 4-5
• Water - 1 cup
• Sugar - 2 tsp

Directions:

1. Take chilled water in a jar
2. Add Rooh Afza and sugar (adjust as per your taste)
3. Mix well with a spoon and pour it to serving glass
4. Add ice cubes

voila...Relax and Enjoy :-)

Ani