Masale Bhaat

Masale Bhaat , a traditional Maharashtrian rice and a Maharashtrian wedding delight.

Rice: Soak (2 cups) basmati rice in water for 30 mins . Later drain out all of the water and keep the rice aside.

Vegetables : Slice  Gherkins (1 1/2 cups Tondali) and (1 cup) Aubergine  .  Then in a pot of water, add salt and turmeric. Place the diced vegetables in it . Bring the water to a boil and let the vegetables cook.  Do not over boil and make the vegetables mushy.   

Masala : In a blender add (2 tbspn) coriander seeds , (1 tbspn) cumin seeds , (1/2 inch) cinnamon , (4 nos) black pepper pods, (4 nos) cardamom pods, (2 nos) cloves, (8 nos) garlic, (1/2 inch) ginger,  (2-3 nos)  mace, (2 nos) cashew nuts, (1/4 cup) coconut and (1/2) nutmeg. Blend them in a fine paste.

In a pan add butter (ghee 3tbspn). When butter gets warm, add (1/4tspn) black mustard seeds (2nos) bay leaves , (10 -12 nos) cashew nuts , sliced onion (1 nos), spring onion (1/4 cup), (2 nos) green chillies and little coriander . Let it cook for few mins, mix well. Now add in the boiled vegetables and prepared masala . Cook this masala in oil well. Then add the rice and little salt (take care with salt as it was added earlier to boiled vegetables). Now add red chilli powder (1tbspn) and turmeric power (1/2 tspn). Mix well , take care rice should not break. Add (4 cups as 1 cup rice = 2 cups water) hot water .  Do not stir , rice might break. Close the lid , lower the heat and let this rice cook well. Water will get absorbed and rice will be cooked.

Take the pan of the heat and serve hot. Garnish with coconut and coriander.

Recipe: Vegetarian

Preparation time : 20 mins

Cooking time : 20 mins

Serves : 4

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Please use this recipe as a guideline and use your discretion to make the recipe or to make a substitution in the recipe. As results vary according to one's skills.