One-pot Vatha kuzhambu rice

Ingredients

• 2 cups raw rice (soaked)
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/4 tsp Fenugreek seeds
• 20 shallots
• 13 garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp kuzhambu chilli powder
• 1 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp dry black nightshade berries
• 1 tbsp dry turkey berries
• 1 string curry leaves
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 cup tamarind puree (extract from one lemon size tamarind)
• 1 tsp jaggery
• 6 cups water

Steps

1. Rinse the raw rice and soak until slightly softened…
2. Extract and strain tamarind puree from a lemon-sized ball…
3. Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add mustard, cumin and fenugreek seeds… Wait for the mustard to splutter
4. Add dried black nightshade and dried turkey berries and roast gently until they puff up…
5. Add the garlic, the shallots and curry leaves; sauté until softened and fragrant…
6. Add turmeric, kuzhambu chilli powder, Kashmiri red chilli powder and coriander powder and fry till raw smell disappears…
7. Add the tamarind puree and let the mixture come to a boil for 5 minutes..
8. Add jaggery, salt cook 2 minutes…
9. Pour in the water, then stir in the soaked rice and bring to a gentle boil… Close the cooker and cook for 4 whistles on medium flame; allow pressure to release naturally..
10. Open, mix in ghee, fluff the rice gently and serve hot with boiled egg or fryums…
11. Now ready to serve..