What would you do with leftover rice? I usually end up having it with some pickle and yogurt. Sometimes i try to use leftover rice to make a complete sumptuous nutritional meal. What could be more nutritious than loading up simple rice with tons of vegetables anf flavoring it up with ginger, garlic and cilantro? I exactly did the same thing with my leftover rice, added an array of vegetables on hand like Carrots, Napa Cabbage, Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Beans, Peppers, Onions, Green Peas etc and jazz it up with Green chillies, Ginger and Garlic.



Usually i find it hard cooking up Indian curries with carrots, but i like to have carrots raw or in fried rice or noodles. Using carrots in this fried rice adds a burst of color, crunch and never forget the nutrition. Coming to cabbage, i usually use regular green cabbage, last week my husband accidentally brought Napa Cabbage and i wasn't sure what to cook with it. I found Napa Cabbage to be more delicate in texture and flavor than its stronger sturdier cousins.This cabbage is perfect for stir-fries, soups or in salads or coleslaw. From now on i would like to use Napa cabbage instead of Green Cabbage in my stir fries for noodles and rice. Adding tomatoes gives that sourness, cucumber for crunch and black pepper for that little extra spice..




Ingredients:
  • 1 cup Basmati rice( i used leftovers )
  • 1 tomato chopped
  • 2 Carrots cut as discs
  • 15 Green beans - french cut
  • 1/4 Napa cabbage cut lengthwise
  • 1 small Onion - chopped length wise
  • 1 medium Green Pepper
  • 1/2 Red Pepper( i didn't have on hand though, optional )
  • 3-4 Green Chillies - chopped
  • 1 inch Ginger root - chopped
  • 2 Garlic cloves - chopped
  • 1/4 cup Green Peas
  • 2 tsp Soya Sauce
  • 1-2 tbsp oil
  • Half cucumber( English cucumber )
  • Black pepper to taste



Preparation:
  • Wash the basmati rice and cook according to package instructions. You can use any rice on hand, i like this basmati long grain rice better though
  • Prep all the vegetables, wash, clean. chop and keep aside
  • In a kadai / stir fry saute pan heat oil on high heat. Add onions ans saute for 30 sec
  • Now add ginger, garlic, green chillies, carrots and beans, stir in some salt too, as salt speeds up the process of cooking
  • After stir frying for 2 mins, add green pepper and green peas
  • Once the veggies are half cooked i.e, veggies should still be crispy yet without the raw smell, add Napa cabbage, tomato, cucumber  and stir fry for a min or so.
  • Lower the heat and add cooked rice, ground black pepper and soy sauce
  • Add cilantro and adjust salt to taste

My vegetable fried rice is so versatile you can mix and match the veggies you like. Go ahead and add tofu for that extra protein boost. Have it steaming hot with some Spicy Maggi Sauce or Sri Racha hot Sauce.


My simple spicy vegetable fried rice is on its way to:

Jeera aka cumin seeds( a strong aromatic spice used abundant in India ) has been known for its medicinal values from ages. They help in digestion, common cold and also for pregnant women to increase lactation. We still use Bhavana Jeelakarra, cumin seeds pickled and dried in lemon juice, black salt etc,, to aid digestion and reduce gas. I always keep them handy to use as a quick and safe remedy for bloating.

Here's one simple recipe that uses this warm and flavorful spice, the Jeera rice, i.e, Basmati rice flavored with toasted cumin and cumin seeds powder in butter/ghee along with onions and chillies for heat. I tasted this for the first time in a Dhaba while coming from Shirdi along with my husband and fallen in love instantly with this simple spiced and aromatic earthy rice bursting with full of flavor. I use ghee / butter for cooking as toasting cumin seeds in butter enhances the strong aroma of Cumin( Jeela karra ) . Here's my version of Jeera Rice.

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • 3-5 green chillies
  • 1 small onion
  • 2 tbsp jeera/cumin seeds
  • 1 tbsp cumin seeds powder
  • 1/2 tsp garam masala
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 tbsp butter/ghee
  • 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste



Preparation:
  • Clean, soak and cook a cup of basmati rice
  • Chop onions and green chillies
  • In a pan/kadai add oil and ghee/butter along with cumin seeds
  • Once the seeds start to brown and release the aroma add onions and green chillies
  • Saute the onions and add ginger garlic paste, when the onions are cooked add jeera powder, garam masala and salt.
  • Now add the cooked rice and adjust salt to your taste
  • Finish it off with cilantro

Serve this simple flavorful earthy Jeera rice along with generous amounts of fresh homemade thick yogurt(perugu/dahi) or any of these curries. And I promise you cant get enough of this Cumin flavored Rice..


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