Today’s recipe “Dill Rice with red kidney beans” is my version of Baghali Polow. But before that I need too feed you with my story for Rice.
My sister and I have shared the most great cherished childhood which is such a rare bond.We have all the adjectives to describe it heavy,close,fiery,clannish etc.It remains the closest till date.You have already seen my dignified meanness in the post Lingonberry Douffin and my self willed sissy in Chicken in spinach cilantro gravy.
But when two sisters fight then hell hath no fury….I used my tongue but she used her hands (Psst…mind it she was four years younger).Then came a time when she stopped believing that she was picked up from the gutter or I had donated my hair to her or her mere existence is because of me. (God you are watching but every elder sister is so….do not pass a Hell sentence).I had to come up with something innovative so that I could hit her soft spot.
That was the time when the Australian series “Neighbors” was being aired which gave me a perspective into sibling clashes and that’s…….swearing abusive slang.But if I had used that “f” word I would have been literally sentenced to death.But to god’s grace English language is evolving and it was time to evolve neologisms.During that time geography was my favorite subject and we were being taught about rice varieties like chotkilerma,sonalika and Basmati such innocent nomenclatures right…. but I should have patented my usage of these words. Whenever my sister tried to have a pillow fight I would start cursing her with these very words You chotkilerma,You sonalika and You Basmati……arrrrhhhhhh! Gosh those words sounded so caustic to her as if I was spewing sulphuric acid.She was so taken aback by these words and she used to wail and leave the room. Mission accomplished!!!!!
Well, but this lasted only until she read geography later.:-)
If you have a sister then it goes out to her. She is your mirror shining back at you with a world of possibilities.She is also your partner in crime and your hour long chat companion.Always cherish this bond.
Please these are ways of writing it wasn’t so gross as it sounds it was really an age appropriate banter. My love for rice also has continued so far and that’s why I cook rice today.
- 400g (2 1/4 cups) Basmati rice
- 2 tbsp Sunflower oil
- 400g red kidney beans,soaked overnight and pressure cooked
- 50g Dill,finely minced
- 2 tbsp Salt
- 1 Lemon
- few strands of saffron soaked in 1 tsp of warm milk
- Boil water is deep pot with 1 tbsp salt and few drops of oil.Once the water begins to boil add your basmati rice and cook until the rice should be par boiled.Then strain the rice and fluff it with a fork.
- In a shallow pan add sunflower oil and add the rice and red kidney beans mix gently.Then mix the finely minced dill and saffron milk and fry for 1 minute.
- Just before serving add a generous squeeze of lemon and relish this fragrant rice,
