Herbed rice with julienne potatoes

5 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
1cupBasmati rice
2mediumsPotatoes, peeled
½tablespoonFresh ginger
2teaspoonsGreen chilies, minced
¼cupCoconut
2tablespoonsParsley, fresh
3tablespoonsGhee
6Whole cloves
Inch piece cinnamon stick
1smallBay leaf
teaspoonWhole cumin seeds
½cupFrozen peas, defrosted
1teaspoonSalt
¾teaspoonTurmeric
1teaspoonLemon juice
cupWater
1teaspoonSugar
1tablespoonGhee
5Lemon wedges to garnish

Directions

Wash the potatoes & cut them evenly into julienne strips.

Combine the ginger root, chilies, coconut, parsley in a bowl. Add a little water or soy milk, mix well. Drop in potato strips. Set aside.

Heat the ghee in a heavy pot, drop in the whole cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf. Fry till the cumin seeds turn brown. Add the marinated potatoes & stir fry till they are lightly browned.

Add the rice, salt, turmeric, lemon juice, water & sugar. Stir & quickly bring to a full boil.

Reduce heat to very low & cover with a tight fitting lid. Simmer gently for 20 to 25 minutes. 5 minutes before the end, add the peas.

Remove lid, turn off heat & add 1 tb ghee. Let rice sit for 5 minutes. Fluff & garnish each portion with lemon wedges.

Adapted from Yamuna Devi, "The Art of Indian Vegetarian Cooking"