Yogurt Rice

# of servings:  4
Preparation Time:  10 mins	Cook Time:  20 mins

A sumptuous meal is incomplete if it is not ended with this dish.  Yogurt rice is a quintessential meal that calms the stomach at any time.  Being an all-time favorite among children, this enlivens many a childhood in an instant!

Ingredients:

• Rice - 1 cup
• Water - 3.5 cups
• Yogurt - 2.5 cups
• Milk - 1 cup
• Butter - 1 square (optional)
• Green chili paste - 0.5 tsp
• Salt
• Spring onion - 1 stalk
• Grated coconut (and/or) Finely chopped cucumber - 1.5 cups
• Pomegranate seeds - 0.5 cup (optional)
• Chopped coriander leaves - 1 fistful
• Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
• Urad daal - 2 tsp
• Cashews - 10 (optional)
• Curry leaves - 2 stalks

Method:

• Wash and drain the rice well
• Add the water to it, along with half the salt needed
• Cook well ('Pressure' mode for 4 mins in IP.  The extra minute is to get extra soft rice)
• In a little oil, season mustard seeds, urad daal, curry leaves and green chili paste.  If using, roast the cashews also.  Set this aside
• Clean and finely chop the cucumbers
• When the rice is cooked, mash it a little with the back of a ladle
• Add milk and butter (if using).  Mix without lumps
• Let it cool down a little more, add the yogurt and remaining salt
• Mix well and stir in the grated coconut (or) chopped cucumbers, coriander leaves, spring onions and pomegranate seeds (if using)
• Lastly, add the urad daal and chili seasoning into the rice
• Mix well and serve immediately

Tips and Tricks:

• The extra 0.5 cup of water and extra minute for cooking make the rice softer
• Adding half the salt to the rice while cooking reduces the need for too much salt and even salting
• Mashing the rice a little along with milk gives a richer taste and avoids the formation of lumps
• Butter and cashews enhance the taste as well
• Cucumbers or pomegranates will add crunch and flavor to the rice
• The chilies added DO NOT make it spicy.  Only half a tsp is added to enhance flavor! 
• The seasoning of the daal is added in the end to keep their crunch

Pictures: 

Final Outcome: