Rice porridge

We are going through the Dog days of summer here with Muscat boiling especially in the afternoons. The warmth of the hob adds to our diminishing energy levels since our cooking starts only in the late afternoons so that we are on time for our Iftar.

July & August brings you sweltering heat & humid weather with long days and short nights. Our Suhoors(meal before dawn taken by a fasting person) end at 4:00 a.m. and that is why we wake up an hour early so that we are on time with it before the white light of dawn is visible in the sky and the morning prayers are read.

Growing up in India, we have adopted several stomach soothing but healthy Iftar options that allow us to avoid oily foods soon after we break our fast. One such dish is the rice porridge that is alleviating without any calorie penalty and we adore such foods. It is a very simple recipe and doesn't need you to linger around it for long. It can be cooked easily without much hassle. I like to keep its spices light so that it revives you during the Iftar and keeps you ready with a good appetite for your dinner.

So here is the recipe for a piping hot bowl of rice porridge - a popular Iftar recipe.

INGREDIENTS:        

•  1 cup coarse rice powder
•  2 tbsp oil
•  1/4 cup yellow mung dal
•  ½ tsp turmeric powder (optional)
•  1/2 tbsp Ginger-Garlic Paste
•  1 Cardomom
•  1 Clove
•  1/2 Onion Sliced
•  1 hand Coriander Leaves chopped finely
•  6-8 Mint Leaves
•  2 Green Chillies Slit
•  Salt to taste

HOW TO MAKE:

1.    Wash 2 cups rice and soak in water overnight.

2.    Next morning, drain the water from the rice and allow it to dry by spreading it on a cloth or a wide plate.

3.    Once the rice is dried, grind it coarsely in the dry jar of the mixer. It forms a coarse powder which can be stored in an air tight container for further uses also. 


4 . Heat oil in a cooking vessel. Add the sliced Onion and fry till onion turns pink/light brown.  

 5.    Next add ginger garlic paste and Turmeric powder(optional) and salt. Stir and mix well.


 6.    Add the Moong dal(green gram lentil) and fry it for 1-2 minutes.

7.    Add the Mint leaves, Green Chillies and Coriander leaves. Fry them for a minute.

8.   Pour 2-3 cups water and bring to boil. Then add 1 cup of the rice powder and allow it to cook on low flame till you find the rice powder become very soft. If water level gets diminished in the vessel, you can add more water also.

9.   The porridge should have a watery consistency. So don't be shy to add a good amount of water. Serve hot.

 RATING NOTES:

               DIFFICULTY LEVEL    :   Easy

              RATING  POINTS         :    8/10**

** You can garnish it with finely chopped Spring Onions, grated carrots, caramalised onion etc .