Blogging Marathon #68 Week 4 Day 1
Theme: Rice Dishes
Dish: Brown Rice Parsi Style
After three different themes over the last three weeks, it is time for another week of good food on the blog. In our month long Cooking Carnival I am posting different rice dishes this week. With just one more week to go, I hope this series leads you to some innovative combinations of rice, curries, appetizer and soups.
For the first day I am posting the remaining half of my Parsi Dhanshak. I posted the Vegetarian version of Dhanshak under entrees and mentioned it is best enjoyed with Parsi style Brown Rice. So here is the recipe of the rice. This rice is rather mild in flavor when it comes to the spice. But it has a great combination of whole spices, onions and caramelized sugar to impart an amazing taste to it.
This recipe is again from my mother in law's cookbook and I make it each time I make Dhanshak at home. The unique feature of the rice is how the sugar is caramelized till just golden brown and the rice being cooked in the flavors of sugar and spices. However, I have sometimes made a quick version of the rice as well. For that, pressure cook the rice and add all the seasonings. The flavors do not come out as bold but it is a quick fix.
Though this rice is not mainstream and I have not seen many restaurants offer it, the latest trend of all the Parsi Restaurants in India seem to serve this rice. The only place I have had this rice is in my house, yet to try it at one of the restaurants on my next trip to India. The combination of this rice and Dhanshak is unmatchable. They are perfectly made for each other. The slightly sweet and mildly flavored rice with the fiery dhanshak make quite a meal!
Ingredients
Basmati/Long Rice 1 cup
Onion 1 medium, diced
Bay Leaves 1-2
Cinnamon Sticks 1 inch piece
Cloves 3-4
Cardamom 2-3 pods
Mustard Seeds 1 tsp
Ghee 1 tsp
Oil 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Method
Wash and soak the rice in 1 ½ cup water for about 30 minutes. Towards the end of the soaking time, start the preparation. Heat oil in a pan and then add the sugar. Let the sugar boil without mixing. In a couple of minutes the sugar will caramelize. Do not let the sugar burn. Once it caramelizes, add the rice and water it has been soaking in.
In another pan heat the ghee and add the mustard seeds and spices. Once fragrant, add the onions and let them cook till pink. Once done, add the entire thing to the boiling rice. Add salt to taste and let the rice simmer on medium flame till all the water is absorbed and the rice is cooked.
Once the rice cooks, turn down the heat and serve with a side of Vegetarian Dhanshak and kachumbar.
Check out the Blogging Marathon page to see what the other Blogging Marathoners are doing BM# 68
MySpicyKitchen says
This is a mildly flavored rice and must have tasted amazing with dhansak
Nalini's Kitchen says
Nice and flavorful rice,tastes great with spicy curry..
Harini R says
Wow! the composition of the picture looks awesome. Love the mildly flavored rice.
vaishali sabnani says
I like the flavors of this rice..and the rice looks just perfectly cooked, though I might just finish that bowl without any accompaniment.
Gayathri Kumar says
That is a nice flavourful rice to have with danshak...
Srividhya says
perfect combo with dhansak..looks super simple. I never add mustard seeds when I include the masala items. will try it out next time.
Kalyani says
Having tasted this dish at a Parsi colleague's place , i was smitten by the different Flavous this combo brings !!
Priya Suresh says
I have already tried my hands in making this brown rice, just love this mildly falvoured rice;
Suma Gandlur says
The mildly flavored rice forms a good base for spicy curries.
Srivalli says
Oh Yes I enjoyed eating this when I had made it..such a good option to serve with spicy curries..so its rice all this week!..good..:)
Archana says
I made dhansshak and since the girls were not well its still in the freezer. Will serve it tomorrow with this rice. Love it.
Pavani says
This is such a flavorful and delicious looking rice dish.
cookingwithsapana says
Parsi style brown rice looks so perfect.
Priya Srinivasan - I Camp in My Kitchen says
Such a flavorful rice recipe, looks tempting, beautifully presented!!!