| # of servings: 4 | |
| Preparation Time: 10 mins | Cook Time: 40 mins |
An anytime favorite among children, this dish is easy to make and personalize with the veggies of their preference. This can be relished with just some ketchup or a soy-based curry. Different combinations can be tried for variety, like Pineapple Fried Rice, Pineapple Basil Fried Rice, etc.
Ingredients:
- Rice - 2 cups
- Water - 4 cups
- Cabbage - 1 cup (essential)
- Carrots, beans, peas, corn - 0.75 cup
- Colored bell peppers - 0.75 cup
- Corn (or) Baby corn - 0.5 cup (optional)
- Cauliflower - 0.5 cup (optional)
- Bamboo shoots - 0.5 cup (optional)
- Pineapple chunks - 1 cup (optional)
- Basil - 2 fistfuls (optional)
- Ginger - 1 inch
- Garlic - 5-6 pods
- Green chili paste - 1.5 tsp
- Black pepper - 1 tsp
- Soy sauce - 2 tbsp
- Oil - 2 tbsp
- Salt
Method:
- Wash the rice and set it in the pressure cooker with water (1:2 ratio) ('Pressure cook' mode in IP for 3 minutes)
- Grate ginger garlic to make a paste
- Chop the vegetables into long slivers (use any or all of the veggies suggested above)
- Crush the black pepper into powder
- Take the cooked rice out of the cooker and let it cool down for some time (at least 10 minutes)
- In another large vessel, heat the oil
- Add black pepper powder, ginger-garlic paste, and chili paste
- Add carrots, green beans, peas, corn, bell peppers, cauliflower, bamboo shoots, cabbage, and pineapple - (whichever is used) in that order. Saute each for a minute and add the next veggie
- Add little salt, just enough for all the vegetables, and saute on high flame just a little (Be sure to cook the veggies only three-fourths, to keep their crunch and taste.)
- Add soy sauce and mix
- Add in the cooled rice and basil (if using)
- Add just a little salt (for the rice). Go easy on salt as soy sauce has a lot of sodium already
- Toss gently to mix the veggies, rice, and salt
- Heat for a few minutes
- Serve with some ketchup or a Soy-based curry
Tips and Tricks:
- Cutting all veggies in slivers not only gives a nice appearance to the dish but also helps them cook faster
- Crunchy vegetables taste better in this dish. Cooking quickly on high flame will cook them just the way needed
- Do not skip using cabbage as it adds a lot to the flavor
- Letting the rice to cool before adding to the veggies will keep the rice from becoming a mushy lump
- Be sure to toss gently while mixing to avoid clumping as well
- Adding basil at the end, along with rice will keep its color, flavor, and fragrance
Pictures:
Final Outcome:
