Mango Rice

Today is a very important day it is - "Pournami - Full moon day" and "Vaikasi Visakam - Swami Nammazhwar's Tirunakshatram"....so I was extremely happy to perform my Satyanarayana Pooja and comine it with Azhwar's Thinakshatram. I had a Gruhapravesham to attend this morning so it was kind of hectic preparing the prasadam and getting things started  for lunch. Prasadam was my favorite Akkaravadisal and for lunch I decided to make Mango rice  and sambhar...I had got mango planning to make pickle...but that did not work out. You must be wondering what sort of a combo this is...but the sambhar was for my son's lunch and tonight's side for dosa or idli ...my batter has not yet fermented hence I am not able to come up with what to make fortonight!!

In India, this month is jam packed with things like making vadam, veththal (solar energy being put to use) and pickle...that too with mango. Summer months are known for mangoes...you find them every where.. - hence moms and aunts keep themselves busy by making different types of pickle with this wonderful mango (the raw one)....you know there are so many varieties of it ...each one famous for its region. They keep them busy with these things and start the chores early in the morning inorder to beat the heat... but it is still hot though at that time too...I wonder how they manage to make all these despite the sweltering heat ...amazing isn't it... The family, friends, relatives exchange their vadam, vethal and pickle...we bring it here too....and we get to enjoy them all through the year!! Hence, I am also joining them ...but not by making vadams or pickles  but by posting a recipe with mango as the main ingredient..it is simple yet delicious!

Mango rice can be made in different ways..some people grate it and do it the way we make lemon rice by frying the grated  mango and temper it spices and add it to the rice... but I do it little bit different. Here goes the recipe....

Ingredients
1 Cup Raw Rice
1 Medium Size Raw Mango
1/2 Tsp Mustard
1/2 Tsp Methi Seeds
1/2 Tsp Channa Dhal
1/2 Tsp Urad Dhal
Hing
Curry leaves
Roasted Peanuts
Oil for tempering

For Grinding:
4 Red Chillies
1 Tsp Zeera
4 Tsp Grated Coconut
1 Tsp Mustard (optional - use it depending upon your taste)
Grated Mango

Cook the rice and allow it cool. Separate the grains with fork.

Peel the skin and grate the Mango. First grind the red chillies, zeera, grated coconut and mustard. After grinding it add the grated mango (reserve some for frying) and grind it well.

Take oil in a pan. Temper it with mustard, methi, urad dhal, channa dhal, hing (perunkayam) and curry leaves. Add the grated mango (1/2 cup) after frying it for a while add the grinded mango with the spices to it and fry it well. Then add the rice slowly and mix it. Garnish it with roasted peanuts and cilantro. How much easier can it be?? This goes well with a side of chips....enjoy!!