COCONUT RICE

Even though a simple rice, Coconut rice is always a very delicious and flavourful one , loved by most of the people. Adding coconut to our food has amazing health benefits. Coconut oil is called one of the Super Foods. But we must use cold pressed, virgin coconut oil for cooking purposes. Nowadays, in India also it is available. We are not supposed to use the  Coconut oil , which we use for hair care and other external purposes,  for cooking . Studies say, it is bad for health.
Coconut is kind of an exotic food, mainly consumed by the health conscious people in the western world. They have no evidence of heart disease. Coconut oil helps us burn more fat, and the lauric acid found in it kills bacterias, viruses and fungi.
So, on this Kanu Festival day , which is mainly celebrated for the welfare of brothers/ cousin brothers, I wanted to share this recipe with you all.
காக்கா பிடி வைத்தேன்
கனு பிடி வைத்தேன்
காக்காய்க்கெல்லாம் கல்யாணம்
குருவிக்கெல்லாம் கொண்டாட்டம்
காக்காய் கூட்டம் கலைந்தாலும்
என் கூட்டம் கலையாமல் இருக்கணும்
These are the lines we say while keeping the Kanu balls. They mean to say, even if the flock of crows and birds separate, my relationship with my brothers and other family members should be intact, untampered, always protected and secure.
Many youngsters would have forgotten these lines, so just as a reminder, I am documenting these lines. That's all.

Ingredients

Rice - 1 1/2 cups

Coconut, fresh and grated - 1 1/2 cups

Salt to taste

Cashews - 10-12, to be roasted in ghee

For seasoning

Virgin coconut oil - 3 tbsps

Hing powder - 1/2 tsp

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp

Split urad dhal - 1 1/2 tsps

Channa dhal - 1 1/2 tsps

Green chillies - 2 chopped

Red chillies - 2 broken

Curry leaves - handful

Recipe Cuisine: South Indian; Category: Lunch

Prep time: 5 mts; Cooking time: 30 mts to cook rice; rest of the things - 10 mts;

Serves 6

Cooked rice, allowed to cool down

All the above mentioned ingredients seasoned in coconut oil

Grated coconut added

All mixed well & added to the cooled rice

 Salt added too.

Cashews roasted in ghee

And added. Mix well.

Serve with Aviyal and Nendhrangai (Nendhran banana) chips.

This post first appeared in www.malpatskitchen.com

Categories: Rice Varieties