Tamarind Rice

Tamarind rice: This is a very popular South Indian dish ('Pulihora' in Andhra Pradesh). Sourness from the tamarind, spiciness from red chillies and the crunch from the white lentils gives a uniquely blended flavor to this rice preparation.

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

- 1 bowl of boiled basmati rice

- 1 tbsp of oil

- 3 to 4 dry red chillies

- 1 1/2 tsp of urad dal (matpe beans with the black skin removed, also known as white lentils)

- 1 tbsp of peanuts

- 1 1/2 tsp of tamarind paste

- 1 tbsp finely chopped cilantro

- salt

Preparation:

- Take 1/2 tsp of tamarind paste in a bowl and mix it with water. Stir it until it is smooth and the tamarind paste blends with water.

- Heat oil in a pan. Once the oil is hot put in the urad dal, dry red chillies and peanuts.

- Fry the dal till it is golden brown. Now put in the tamarind water.

- Let the tamarind mixture boil.

- When the water reduces to about 1/4 th it's original quantity (i.e. a very small amount remains), put in the rice.

- Put salt and mix with the rice .

- Keep the rice on medium heat for 5 min.

- Garnish with cilantro and serve.

*** If you have peanut allergies you can omit peanuts without sacrificing the essential flavor of this dish.