Tempering Rice... A quick one!

Recently I got to know the difference between a sequel and a franchise movie. If there are only two parts then its a sequel however if its 3 or more parts then the movie is a franchise. 

For example Alien, Fast and Furious movies are franchise where as Harold & Kumar is a squeal with only two parts (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and

Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay). 

You might be wondering where I am getting at :-)? Well, its my third blog on cooking recipes that means my blog is now a franchise, right? Kidding :-).

Since its the third recipe, you need three things for this one: 

1. Cooked Basmati Rice 
2. Tempering and 
3. A good music play list :).

So let's get to it.

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp Cumin seeds.
• 2 inch piece of ginger, cut into fine julienne.
• 2 medium size onion, finely chopped. A chopper would be preferred.
• 3 large tomatoes, finely chopped. A chopper would be preferred.
• 3 green chilies (adjust according to your taste).
• 2 tsp red chili power (adjust according to your taste).
• 1 tsp Cumin powder.
• 1 tsp Coriander powder.
• 1 tsp turmeric powder.
• 1 tsp black pepper.
• Lemon Juice.
• 3 tsp Olive Oil, Refined Oil, or Desi Ghee.
• Salt to taste.
• Frozen/Fresh peas.
• A glass of Rice.
• Peanuts (optional)
• Tomato ketchup (optional).
• Garam masala to garnish (optional).
• Coriander leaves to garnish (optional).

Cooking Process:

We will cook rice and tempering separately and in the end we will mix them well together.

The Rice

• 1 glass of raw basmati rice, well rinsed with tap/filtered water till they are clean.
• Put it in microwave safe bowl.
• Add some salt, peas and cumin seeds.
• Add two glasses of water and cook it. I cook it for 20 minutes in microwave on Medium High. You need to look out for your microwave settings.
• While it cooks lets get to tempering.

Here is how it should look:

The Tempering

• Heat the pan, add olive/ refined oil or Ghee.
• Add cumin seeds, let them crackle.  
• Add onion with green chilies.
• Add ginger julienne.
• Add salt.
• Let the onions change its color.
• Add tomatoes.
• Add all the dry spices i.e. red chili power, coriander powder, cumin powder, turmeric powder
• Mix well. Cover the pan and cook it well. 
• Keep stirring in between.
• Roughly cook it for 15 minutes.
• Once its done add peanuts, tomato ketchup, garam masala, black pepper, lemon juice. 
• Cook it for another 2-3 minutes.

Here is how it should look:

The Mix

• Buy this time your rice will be ready.
• Pour the cooked rice into the tempering bowl. No need to change the bowl.
• Mix well.
• Cook it for another 5 minutes. 
• And that's it.

Final Product

Tempering Rice

Hey I am not expert, but I hope you will like it :). As always your comments are most welcome. And also don't forget to close off your play list :).