Healthy Red Lentil Rice ( Masoor Dal Pulao )

There are some dishes out there which need to be tasted ,munched, chewed, absorbed, to know what it is all about. Just seeing a recipe and gaping at the photo just wont do. The Red Lentil Rice is what I am talking about. Looks are simple, instruction are so-so, but the taste - Out of the world. It is amazing that something which has almost 0 fat and frills can taste so yum. It is full of nutrition and this is one "health" dish we wont mind latching on to.

Ingredients

• 1 cup basmati rice, soaked in water for at least 30min
  
  
• 2 cups coconut milk / plain low fat milk / vegetable stock / water
  
  
• a pinch of saffron
  
  
• 1 cup pearl onions
  
  
• 2 tomatoes,chopped
  
  
• 3/4 cup masoor dal ( Red Lentil ), soaked in water for 30 min
  
  
• 1/2 cup peas
  
  
• 1 carrot, chopped
  

To Be Ground Into Paste

• 2-3 cloves of garlic
  
  
• 1 inch piece ginger
  
  
• 3 tsp corainder seeds
  
  
• 3 tsp poppy seeds ( khus khus)
  
  
• 2 tsp cumin seeds
  
  
• 1 tsp fennel seeds
  
  
• 1 bay leaf
  
  
• 1 cardamom
  

Method

1.Mix the saffron in lukewarm milk/water/coconut milk or whatever you are using. Mix well and cook the rice with this mixture. The grains of the rice should be seperate. Cool slightly by spreading in a plate



2.Add little Olive oil/ Pam Spray in a non stick pan and saute the pearl onions. Season with salt. Helps it to cook faster without the additon of lots of oil.



3.Add the carrots and peas and cook for further 3-4 min till soft. Add the ground paste and stir well till the raw smell leaves, about approx, 5 min.



4. Add the masoor dal, saute for a min and then add 1 cup of water. Cover and cook for another 10 min till the dal gets cooked.



Add the cooled rice and mix well. Garnish it with corainder leaves/mint.



This dish is a complete meal by itself - being rich in proteins and other nutrients added from the spices. Hence does not need a elaborate side dish. Simple Raita made with low fat curd is more than enough.

Sometimes when the word "healthy" is mentioned it acts as a wonderful simulant for kids to say "NO". Biryani,Pulao, tasty,yummmm words make them try to venture out. So this one is a very "Obviously" "hidden" health goodie bag which will help Kids chew down the nutrients without troubling anyone. Dont take my word for it - Give this one a try :) or simply ask my mom ;-) Since this is how I was made a "Royal Fool" off am sending it to Vanamala's Kid's Food Event