Monday, December 26, 2011

Nellikai Chitranna Mix

Mom was not well a couple of months ago and was advised some bed rest. Since she stays quite far off and with my work schedule, I cannot visit her often. So when I went there on weekends, I’d make some ready to eats, and mixes and dosa/idli batter and stock up the refrigerator so that my sis could manage with little effort in the mornings.
This was one of the items I made. Of course, learnt it from mom only! Sis did all the pitting and chopping and grating work and I got the mix ready which was then stocked up in the refrigerator. This mix stays well in the fridge for 2-3 weeks and if using dry coconut, for longer. When you want to have, all you need to do is make some rice and mix with this for a delicious serving of tangy, spicy rice.



Nellikai Chitranna Mix – Gooseberry Rice

Preparation time : 15 min
Cooking time : 10 min


Ingredients:
Gooseberries / Nellikai - ~20 pitted and roughly chopped
Grated coconut - ½ cup
Green chilies - 10-12, as per taste
Asafetida / hing - a generous pinch
Salt - 1 tsp or as per taste
For tempering:
Cooking oil - 1-2 Tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Bengal gram dal - 2 tsp
Urad dal - 2 tsp
Peanuts - 2 Tbsp
Curry leaves - 1 Tbsp
Turmeric - a pinch
Salt - ½ tsp or as per taste

Method:
• Grind the gooseberries, chilies, asafetida, coconut, and salt, in a mixie to form a coarse mixture. Do not add any water
• In a skillet heat oil, add mustard seeds and allow to splutter
• Add groundnut seeds and fry for a few seconds
• Add Bengal gram dal and urad dal and fry till golden
• Add curry leaves and turmeric and fry for a minute or two till all the ingredients are crisp
• Add the ground mixture and mix thoroughly, with the heat on
• Saute it well till the wetness is gone and then turn off the heat; don’t make the mixture too crumbly
• Cool it and store in airtight container in fridge for about 2-3 weeks

Serving Instructions:
• Make rice and spread it so that the grains do not stick to each other
• For every cup of uncooked rice, about 1 Tbsp of the mix should be enough
• Mix well and serve

Notes:
• Dry coconut can also be used, in which case the mix will last longer.

4 comments:

  1. Delicious and vibrant looking Mix. Wonderfully prepared.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  2. Tangy rice,looks fabulous and makes me hungry.

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  3. I make this kind with mavinakayi for instant use. I don't get nellikayi here, so out of question. This shouldn't go bad even after 2 weeks if it has been sauteed well.

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  4. Looks delicious suma, your blog is wonderful. I started a food blog very recently and my very second post is Avarekalu kadubu since it happens to be one of my favorite dishes and I found fresh avarekayi after a long time in my area :-). I just saw you had a kadubu posting also, mine is very close to it. I book marked the recipes I want to try from your blog, will let you know how it went. Do check in my blog when you get a chance

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