“It’s getting hot in here…so take off all your clothes…” – no, I’m not suggesting anything blasphemous, just humming to the tune of a Nelly song. But honestly, don’t you just feel like doing that sometimes?? When I see Cub pulling off his T shirt and prancing about shirtless, I can’t help but feel a little envious. It would be perfect for this weather, pity I can’t do the same L.
Well, we can find less shocking ways to cool ourselves, and one summer staple that always comes to mind is Curd Rice. I just love it with some spicy seafood on the side. Here, I’ve healthed it up by using high fibre Kerala red rice and vegetables.
Red rice is a lunch staple at our home. My parents and in laws still use white parboiled rice for their lunch time meals, but not us!! We’ve become so used to this that eating white parboiled rice feels odd nowadays J.
What you’ll need (1-2 servings):
1 cup cooked and cooled red rice/brown rice
½ medium cucumber, finely chopped
1 small carrot, grated
½ cup low fat curd or more, as needed
1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
½ tsp mustard seeds
1 dried red chilli
Salt to taste
¼ tsp vegetable oil
Note:If you are cooking Kerala red rice, you usually have to cook it with large amounts of water, in a pressure cooker for 4-5 whistles, depending on the kind of rice. Then you have to drain the rice in a colander for some time, till all the water is gone. It gets really starchy and sticky if you over cook it.
What you’re going to do:
1. Mix together your vegetables and whisk the curd with salt till smooth.
2. Put the rice in a large bowl and add the vegetables along with the whisked curd. Mix everything together.
3. Heat a little oil, pop in the mustard seeds and wait for all the seeds to stop sputtering. Then add in a broken red chilli and fry for a few seconds.
4. Pour this tempering over the rice-vegetable-curd combo and stir it through.
5. Serve in individual bowls topped with chopped coriander leaves. Accompaniments include pappad, pickle, grilled chicken or seafood J.
I don’t know if having non veg with curd rice is an abomination, but we usually have it that way, especially with prawns. So do try out my version of curd rice and let me know what you think!!
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