MANSAF PILAF RICE..VEGETARIAN VERSION.

Mansaf pilaf rice..Vegetarian Version

This pilaf comes from the middle eastern region of Jordan. Also considered their national dish. Normally cooked in JAMEED( yogurt sauce) with minimum usage of spices.
This is a version I came across on the net long back( would like to credit the blogger, but sadly unable to find it, glad I had jotted down the recipe though)
,I have adapted a bit to our liking. The taste is not very far from Indian cooking.
Served with a garlicky yogurt sauce. Its a comfort food.
The non vegetarian version uses lambĀ  mostly.
My version of mansaf pulav tweaked to a slightly Indian taste..šŸ˜Š

2 cups of Basmati Rice..washed and soaked for an hour.

Cook the rice as usual adding

1 stick of cinnamon
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 cinnamon powder
2 tsps salt.

THE VEGETABLE LAYER
Heat 2bsps oil
Add..
2 finely chopped onions.. saute till pale gold.
Add puree of 2 tomatoes( blanched)
Add 1/4 cup of soya granules( boil, and saute inĀ  little oil)
Add one chopped green paprika.
Add 1 brinjal cut into small cubes
( soak in slightly salted water, squeeze and saute lightly in little oil)
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
Mix everything well.. add little water and cook tillĀ  a thick gravy is left
1 tsp black pepper powder or red chilli powder.
Add 2 tsps of BAHARAT SPICE( recipe given below)
Salt to taste.
When done, keep aside.

GARLIC LABAN MOUTBOUK

Whisk 1 cup of thick yogurt with
1 tsp cornflour
1 tsp besan.
( adding these will prevent curdling)

Heat 2 tsps oil and add 1 heaped tbsp of finely chopped garlic.
Saute till pale golden
Add whisked yogurt
And heat on low till you see bubbles appearing.
Shut the flame and season with salt.

To assemble..
Heap rice on a platter and top with the vegetables, drizzle some laban moutbouk on the top and garnish with roasted almonds, pumkin and sunflower seeds. And sprinkle some of the Baharat powder on top.

To make Baharat spice

Mix 1/2 tsp each

Cinnamon powder
Cumin powder
Corriander powder
Clove powder
Nutmeg powder
Black pepper powder
Ginger powder..

Fusion Baked Truffle Khichdi.

FUSION BAKED TRUFFLE KHICHDI.

A very very simple comfort soul food.
Khichdi am sure is popular in all Indian homes. This khichdi barely uses any spices. Using truffle oil is the ultimate here. Lately in many Indian weddings, this has been a part of the menu. And truffle with anything is my favourite, be it pasta, be it french fries. šŸ˜Š today had these fresh shitake myshrooms so was tempted to make a fusion sort of a khichdi with them plus other vegs.
Do try this pantry friendly , humble khichdi which has amazing flavours.
I wish I had the fresh truffle which I could grate and add, but made do with the equally good flavoured truffle oil that I had

INGREDIENTS
Wash and soak together for an hour.
1/2 cup rice
1/4 cup yellow moong dal
1/4 cup toovar dal

Other ingredients.
1/2 cup finely chopped cauliflower
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh shitake mushroom( or any other mushrooms)
1/2 cup finely chopped french beans
1/2 cup finely chopped carrots.
2 sprigs curry pata..finely chop only the leaves .
1 heaped tbsp finely chopped garlic
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric powder.

Salt to taste
1 tsp mushroom seasoning or any vegetarian flavour( maggie cube or something)

For topping
Fresh mint leaves
Finely chopped corriander leaves
Fried onions.
Grated cheese as needed
Some sugar
Truffle oil or grated truffle..here I used the oil spray.

Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a pressure cooker or saucepan.
Add mustard seeds, cumin, When seeds crackle, add chopped curry leaves and some kotmir to the oil. Now add the garlic, saute till light golden. Add all the vegetables, salt, mushroom seasoning, turmeric, rice, dal and about 3 cups of water. Cook for 3 to 4 whistles.
Once the lid can be opened, churn a little with a wooden churner. Add about 2 tsps of truffle oil. But let the khichdi be not too smooth, leave it with a bite to it.

Put in a baking dish.
Sprinkle a bit of sugar all over the surface..just a bit, and it melts slightly for that slight upgrade in taste.
Top with grated cheese and spray truffle oil. Just grill for few minutes only till cheese melts.( you can even microwave it till cheese meltsā€¦normally 1 to 2 minutes.)
Top with corriander leaves, mint leaves and fried onions and a squirt of lime juice.

Enjoy.
I served with crispy karela and papadum, fried fish and pan fried potatoes.