Monday, February 20, 2012

Bangala Dumpa Annam (Potato Pulao from Andhra) & Winners of the giveaway

Do you think twice before cooking the same dish already showcased ? Do you plan your meals according to the umpteen events happening in the blogosphere ? Do you constantly feel the urge of dishing out something wow ? of course, you are a food blogger and your quest to keep your blog glitzy & glam must be driving your family members crazy. 
Gone are the days when hubby-dearest used to wish for some scrumptious treat regularly --- now he is actually wishing I stop dishing out something nice. His only request is to cook something hearty & comfy and most importantly not for the blog. I think about the pictures that the dish will produce & the request more often than not gets a boot with a "I am a food-writer and I have a hungry blog to satiate" retort :p


Luckily for him us, the not to cook for blog bug has bitten me hard these days and I am up to dishing out & eating hearty food. Yup, I do think about my blog and dish out something to keep it happy, but am glad to be cooking dishes that are more likely to appeal to our current palate. This rice dish was cooked for review of the book Southern Flavours but appealed immensely and was thoroughly enjoyed.






Rice, the versatile ingredient has a peppy makeover with poppy seeds & coriander giving the spice factor & the very humble potatoes bask as being the highlight of the dish. The dish is a specialty from the region of Andhra in South India. A few changes were given- for instance, I used olive oil instead of the ghee/clarified butter specified. The author has painstakingly explained the process of getting fresh coconut milk, which no doubt has its charm & appeal but I used store bought coconut milk.



What's in it :-

  • Long Grained Rice/Basmati rice - 1 cup
  • Potatoes - 2 large - peeled & cubed
  • Onions - 2 large- finely chopped
  • Green chillis - 3 to 4 - to taste
  • Ginger & Garlic paste - 1 tsp each
  • Salt - to taste
  • Coconut Milk - 200 ml ( I used store bought)
  • Water - enough to mix with coconut milk (for cooking rice)
For the spice powder :-
  • Cardamom - 2 to 3
  • Cloves - 2
  • Cinnamon stick - a small piece
  • Poppy Seeds (Khus-khus) - 2 tsp
  • Coriander Seeds - 2 tsp
For Garnish :-
  • Ghee /Clarified Butter - 2 tbsp (I used olive oil)
  • Cashew nuts - few - roughly chopped
  • Coriander leaves - a few sprigs - chopped
  • Curry leaves - a few
For Tempering :-
  • Ghee/Clarified Butter & Oil - 2 tbsp (I used olive oil)
  • Mustard Seeds - 1 tsp
  • Cardamom & Cloves - 2 each
  • Cinnamon stick - a small piece
Here's how :-

Wash rice & soak in water for 30 minutes. Drain & set aside. Grind all ingredients for the spice powder & set aside. In a heavy bottomed pan, add the ghee/oil and as it warms up let the mustard crackle & sizzle. Dump the whole spices mentioned in the tempering (cardamom,cloves, cinnamon) and fry for a few minutes.
Add the potatoes and saute for 2-3 minutes.
Tip in the onions & green chillis and fry for a few minutes till the potato is cooked & golden brown.
Stir in ginger & garlic paste and saute for a few seconds. Mix in the spice powder and fry for a minute. 
Add coconut milk with water as required, and bring it to a boil over medium heat.
When it begins to bubble, mix rice & salt.
Reduce heat & cook it for 15-18 minutes or as required till the rice turns tender & fluffy.In a separate skillet, roast the cashewnuts in ghee/oil till they are golden brown and garnish them over rice along with coriander leaves & curry leaves.
Serve hot with choice accompaniments.
Enjoy


Finally, the winners of the giveaway have been selected.
Gauri @ Pasta& Parathas is the International winner ; Radhika @ Tickling Palates is the winner within India.
Congratulation ladies, Your books are on the way.

25 comments:

  1. yummy yum pulao i just saw the recipe in chandra padmanabhan s latest book now i m bookmarking it for sure!! And congrats to radhi and gauri

    ReplyDelete
  2. hey excellent clicks dear....yummy yummy!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. So true Priya, how we cook for the blog!!!
    This rice looks delicious.
    Congrats to the winners

    ReplyDelete
  4. This rice is next in the pipeline for me to cook. Wonderful clicks Priya. Thanks for being selected and congrats to the other winner too.

    Radhika.
    Tickling Palates
    Event : Let’s Cook – Sweet Somethings

    ReplyDelete
  5. The rice looks smashing yummy! congrats to Gauri and Radhika for winning this awesome book :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. curry looks delicious, congrats to winners

    ReplyDelete
  7. Rice looks delicious...congrats to winners!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. The pulav rice looks yummy.....rich and filling.....

    ReplyDelete
  9. Comfort food,filling and delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  10. absolutely delicious pulao...nice recipe, bookmarking it
    Congrats to the lucky winners !!
    Spicy Treats
    OnGoing Event:Show Me Your HITS~Healthy Delights

    ReplyDelete
  11. Very delicious n filling one pot meal,yummy!!

    Erivum Puliyum

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very nice dish :) & congratulations winners :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Super inviting pulao !! looks wonderful !!

    Ongoing event CC-Dish For Loved Ones

    ReplyDelete
  14. The Rice is a potato lover's delight for sure...congrats to Radhika for winning the giveaway and I am feeling super lucky too!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Yummy pulao and congrats to the winners.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Aha seems we've both been craving the same thing! Love your pulao.

    ReplyDelete
  17. مشكوور والله يعطيك العافيه




    goood thenkss

    ReplyDelete
  18. gr8 looking rice preparation...love it.Congrats to the winners.

    ReplyDelete
  19. You made me smile reading your post!
    My husband does the same thing! can't you cook just for us and NOT FOR THE BLOG lol
    I too have been trying to cook more comfort hearty meals lately and this one looks amazing. I love spiced rice

    ReplyDelete
  20. This rice dish really looks a relish... The ingredients used like poppy seeds, coriander seeds, etc. are different than normal pulavs. Bookmarked!! Should try this soon!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congratulations to the winners :)
    This rice dish is just beautiful, and the flavors are a delight! A must try :)

    ReplyDelete