Quick and Healthy Fried Rice

Tofu is the good source of soy protein, calcium and iron, whereas mushrooms are for  B vitamins and low in calories. Both are cholesterol free. Just combined   these two healthy foods in one meal.

 

Ingredients:

Cooked rice        (1 cup or leftover is also fine)

Tofu                      (8 oz or 250 gms ,chop into cubes)

Mushrooms         (8 oz or 250 gms, cleaned and chopped)

Black cumin seeds/kala jeera      (1 tsp)

Red dried chillies                           ( 3 no) 

Black pepper powder/miriyala podi   (1/4 tsp)

Soy sauce                                               (1 tsp)

Oil                                                            (2 tsp)

Salt to taste

Method:   

Heat oil in  a nonstick pan and  add cumin seeds, red chilli, tofu and mushrooms.  Stir it and  fry it for 3-5 minutes. Now add black pepper, soy sauce ,cooked rice and finally salt.  Mix well .  The healthy rice is ready in minutes.   

How To Cook Brown Rice ( Hulled Rice)

Brown rice is having lot of health benefits than regular white rice.  Rich in fibers, minerals   and vitamins. Cooking brown rice is little bit tricky.  The best way to cook brown rice is on a stove. It’s a slow cooking process, so it takes about 45 to 50 minutes for cooking.  This method works for both short and long grain brown rice. 

Here is the recipe for brown rice. This recipe serves 4-5 people.

Ingredients:

Brown rice    [2 cups, soak the rice in 6 cups water for about 30 minutes, (longer time also fine), 1:3 ratio of rice and water for mushy brown rice.]

Pinch of salt (optional)

¼ tsp of oil (optional)

Cooking method:

Take a heavy bottomed or nonstick pot with  a  tight lid.

Transfer  the soaked rice along with water to it.

Add pinch of salt to the rice water then put it on stove burner. Keep the flame high, and bring the rice and water to a boil uncovered.

Then add oil and  put the lid on the pot, and reduce the heat to low/simmer.

Let the rice simmer for 35-40 minutes until all the water has absorbed.

Turn off the heat, and let the rice sit in the covered pot for another 10 minutes (20 minutes also fine). 

Serve hot with sambar or dal.  

Quick Plain Biryani Rice Recipe

 

Today I am going to post quick plain biryani rice recipe.  One can make this in electric rice cooker or pressure cooker.  This recipe serves 3-4 people. This rice goes well with non-veg curries, sambar and fried curries.

Ingredients:

Rice 2 cups (Basmathi, wash, soak rice in 3 ½ cups water for 10- 15 minutes)

Oil – (1 tsp)

Onions (1 small, cut into long thin pieces)

Black cumin seeds/kala jeera (1 tsp)   (Cumin seeds are alternative for black cumin seeds)

Bay leaves (2 no)

Cinnamon stick/dalchina (1no, 1 inch)

Cloves/lavanga   (3-4)

Cardamoms/ealichi   ( whole 2 no)

Cooking Method:

Heat   the inner pan of the electric rice cooker on stove with low flame, add 1 tsp oil, then add onion, sauté it till they become transparent.

Now add black cumin sedds/kala jeera, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamoms and stir fry it for 2 minutes.

Then add rice along with water and mix well.  Now transfer this inner pan into the electric rice cooker, turn on switch.  Once the rice is done, hot biryani is ready to serve.

Tasty Tomato Bath or Rice

Making tomato rice is very simple and easy.  Add all ingredients in cooker and   put it on stove for 3 whistles.  By seeing the list, it  looks lengthy but while cooking it goes fast.  You may or may not  add   all the ingredients which I have listed here, but if you add them it  gives nice aroma and taste to your tomato rice. Adding veggies to  the tomato bath is up to you. This recipe will serve 4-5 people.

Ingredients:

Rice 1 cup

Tomatoes   ( medium size 4-5, cut into pieces)

Potatoes (2, wash, peel and cut into cubes)

Beans (1/2 lb, I used French cut beans)

Soya chunks   (Nutrela brand  20 counts)

Onions (1, medium size, cut into pieces)

Garlic and ginger paste    ( ½ tsp)

Cumin seeds/Jeera (1/2  tsp)

Black jeera/Shajeera (1/2 tsp)

Green chillies  (2, cut into pieces)

Cinnamon stick/dalchina 1(1/2 inch piece)

Cardamoms/elaichi    (2 No)

Cloves/lavanga       (4 No)

Beay leasves/biryani aaku   (1 No)

Anise star flower/Puvvu     (2 No)

Water (1&1/2 cups )

Salt to taste

Oil -   3 tsps

Preparation method:

1. First keep the soya chunks in the hot water for few minutes then drain the water and  keep it aside.
2. Wash the rice and add adequate water(1&1/2 cups) to it.
3. Take the pressure cooker, heat 3 tsp oil, add  onions,  green chillies and  garlic&ginger paste and sauté it few seconds,  now add  all above spices, stir it,  then  add vegetables, soya chunks,  rice with  water finally salt and  mix well. Place the cooker lid   and put it on high fame for 3 whistles. Then remove it from the heat, let it cool. Now the tasty tomato rice is ready to serve.

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Simple and Easy Chinese Vegetable Rice with Tofu

Whenever you have leftover rice, prepare  this rice, instant and easy.  Simply add some vegetables and if possible tofu also to make it rich and healthy.

Ingredients:

• Cooked rice 1 cup (leftover rice is also fine)
• Mixed vegetables  ( 1 cup boiled)
• Tofu (100 gms, cut into cubes)
• Jeera/cumin (1 tsp)
• Black cumin seeds/shah jeera (1tsp)
• Red chillies  (2 No)
• Cinnamon stick 1(1/2 inch piece, optional)
• Black pepper powder/miriyala podi (1/2 tsp)
• Soy sauce (1 tsp)
• Salt
• Oil

Preparation method:

 

1. Take the wok, heat ½ tsp oil,  add tofu pieces, little bit stir fry it, so you do not feel any kind of smell, now transfer it to a bowl.

2. In the same wok, add 2tsp oil, heat it and now add jeera, black jeera,redchillies, cinnamon stick saute it for 1 minute and  add boiled vegetables. 

3.To this vegetable mix add blackpepper powder, soy sauce and stir fry it for 3 minutes, add little salt to taste (because you added soy sauce) then finally add cooked rice, tofu pieces and mix well.  Now it is ready to serve.