A meal without a rice bowl on the table seems so incomplete! If you happen to be in South India or Bengal, the rice dish might be the focus of the meal, but even in other parts of the country, at least one rice-based dish is served as part of a full-fledged meal. This is not surprising, considering that rice is known to be one of the oldest cultivated grains in the world, which is still consumed today. With its neutral and pleasing taste, and versatile texture, rice is a boon to the culinary world. It tastes good if had plain, it tastes better with a dollop of ghee, and it tastes truly incredible when cooked into a dish like the Shahi Korma Biryani!
Rice is one of the staple grains of India, and there are numerous varieties available in our country – from the world-famous Basmati rice, which is used for pulaos and biryanis, to the Surti Kolam used for khichdis, the parboiled rice available to make Idli and Dosas, and the innumerable varieties of South Indian rice like Ponni and Sona Masuri.
For most Indians, meals like lunch and dinner generally include at least a cup of rice, along with Rotis and other dishes. Whether it is Ghee Rice with Dal Tadka or Dal Makhani, a Vegetable Pulao with Makhani Gravy or Kadhi, or a more elaborate Biryani with Raita, you do not get complete satisfaction out of the meal unless you have at least a small portion of rice.
Rice can be served plain, with accompaniments like dal, subzis, sambhar and rasam, or it can be prepared into pulaos, biryanis, and baked rice dishes. Whether you want to have something light or heavy, you can find a rice dish to match your requirement…
When the rest of your meal is heavy, you can simply serve Plain Rice, cooked perfectly. It tastes great with dal, kadhi or subzi. Or, like the South Indians, the rice can be mixed with curds and enjoyed with achar. On a day, when you do not have time to make anything else, just resort to a quick but sumptuous one-dish meal like Dal Khichdi or Tomato Rice, which taste good when simply served with a cup of curds, papad and pickles.
On a festive day or to celebrate a special occasion, seek out extraordinary recipes like the Lajjatdar Handi Biryani or Kabuli Chana Biryani. You can also try out regional specialties like the Gatte ka Pulao, which is a Rajasthani delicacy. Rice is also one of the perfect grains to pack in a tiffin box because it does not tend to get rubbery or thick upon cooling. Dishes like Rajma Chawal and Lajjatdar Handi Biryani are awesome dabba treats, which taste great even after a few hours.
Rice is, interestingly, good for our health too. Since time immemorial, rice has been considered a safe food for everybody from babies to elders. It is a wonderful source of energy, and also an essential source of many vitamins and minerals, especially if cooked the right way, without discarding the water. Arguably, the polished version of rice loses vital nutrients when it is processed, but this can be overcome by using brown rice or hand-pounded rice. If there is excess water when cooking the rice, drain the water and use it to thicken gravies or feed it to infants, as it is rich in essential nutrients.
Yes, with its wonderful taste, heritage, cultural importance, health benefits and all, rice is a grain that we must all familiarize ourselves with it. And trust us, once you start exploring the potential of rice, your passion for the rice bowl will only strengthen with each passing day.
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Thanks for the great recipes! I receive your Newsletter/recipes regularly and then pass the easier ones on to the younger people. I have learned a lot about Indian cooking since I''ve been receiving your recipes! Keep up the good you are doing!
Yeh tho such hai Indian meal is incomplete without rice. Aacchi recipes aur unki jankari milti hai tarladalal.com pe.