Carrot Rice

Preparing lunch and snacks for my daughter is a big challenge for me. She is such a fussy and choosy eater that I have a tough time making her eat something healthy. My daughter’s hot favorites for her snack and lunch box on any day would be Potato chips and Noodles and that too without veggies. (She’s very particular about that). Thankfully, the school she goes to now has a set menu which does not permit noodles. I was so happy when I saw the menu. Everyday there would be a choice of either a rice item or some roti or paratha. So I pack her rice and rotis on alternate days.

In my never ending struggle to feed my daughter something healthy and nutritious, I found this particular recipe in my favorite author Mallika Badrinath’s book. She comes as my savior on most occasions. This is simple and healthy rice and is a quick fix for kids as well as hubby’s lunch box. Most kids like carrots when compared to other vegetables. And all mothers will surely know its health benefits. Carrot rice has become a family favorite now and is there in my daughter’s and H’s box at least once in 10 days.

Ingredients

1. Rice – 1 Cup
2. Carrots – 2 Big
3. Onions – 2 Medium
4. Groundnuts – 2 Tblsps
5. Oil – 2 Tbl sp
6. Salt as required
7. Cinnamon – a small piece
8. Cloves – 2
9. Cardamom – 1 or 2
10. Cashews a few


For the spice powder

1. Coriander Seeds – 2 tsps
2. Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp
3. Red Chillies – 3 to 4
4. Grated Dry Coconut / Khopra – 2 tblsp

Method

Cut onions into small pieces. Peel and grate carrots. Cook rice, allow it to cool and separate grains.
Heat a Kadai with oil, add the cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and cashews. Fry till cashews turn golden. Next add the onions and sauté till onions turn translucent. Next add grated carrots and fry for few minutes. Cover and cook till carrots are slightly soft.
In the meanwhile, fry the items mentioned under For spice powder in a teaspoon of oil and powder it. Also, roast the groundnuts without oil, remove skin and powder it coarsely.
Once the carrots are done, add the cooked rice, spice powder and salt to taste. Mix well for 2 to 3 mins on high heat till the flavors are blended together. Finally add the coarsely ground peanuts. Mix well.

Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve with a simple potato fry or a raita of your choice.

Sending this to CWS- Coriander seeds originally started by Priya, Guest hosted by Aruna
Also sending this to Priya and Aipi's Bookmarked Recipes.