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The Amazing Rice: Indian Rice With Red Lentils

partysugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:30:43 -0700

Like David Chang, I believe this year is all about rice. It's a delicious and ancient staple consumed by more than half the world's population. There are more than 7,000 varieties of rice and countless cultural preparations, so I've decided it's time to race around the world in the comforts of my own kitchen. Naturally I'm inviting you to join me on my rice adventures as I travel the globe experimenting with risotto, sushi, gumbo, and everything in between. To get things started, let's head to India with this rice and lentils with raita. It's healthy, fast, and delicious. Learn how I made it and read more.

Indian Rice and Lentils with Raita
From Food and Wine

Ingredients

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
5 whole black peppercorns
5 cardamom pods
5 whole cloves
2 dried red chiles
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup jasmine rice or other long-grain rice, rinsed
1 cup red lentils, rinsed
3 1/2 cups hot water
Kosher salt
1 medium cucumber-peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
1 cup plain, nonfat Greek yogurt
2 jalapeños, seeded and very finely chopped
1 small garlic clove, very finely chopped
Freshly ground pepper

Directions

In a medium saucepan, heat the vegetable oil. Add the sliced onions and cook them over high heat, stirring occasionally, until they are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer half of the onions to a plate.

Add the peppercorns, cardamom, cloves, chiles and cinnamon stick to the onions in the saucepan and cook over moderately high heat for 1 minute, stirring.
Stir in the rice, lentils, water and 2 teaspoons of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to moderately low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the rice and lentils are tender.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss the sliced cucumber with the yogurt, jalapeños and garlic and season with salt and pepper.

Gently fluff the rice and lentils with a fork and discard the whole spices. Transfer the rice to a platter, garnish with the reserved onions and serve with the cucumber raita.

Serves 4.

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Monday's Leftovers: Chicken Salad with Cumin Carrot Raita

partysugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:45:12 -0700

Making chicken salad is a classic way to use up leftover grilled chicken. However, when the leftover chicken happens to be tandoori style grilled chicken, the chicken salad is anything but ordinary.

This recipe combines the moist meat with cumin, radishes, and carrots. There's no mayonnaise involved, instead the base of the sauce is whole milk yogurt.

To check out the recipe - which is tasty inside warmed pita bread - read more.

Chicken Salad with Cumin Carrot Raita
From Food and Wine magazine

Ingredients

One 3 1/2-pound roasted chicken, meat shredded (4 cups)
3 large radishes, thickly sliced
1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped mint leaves
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Cumin-Scented Carrot Raita, recipe below
Salt
Cayenne pepper
Lime wedges and warmed pita, for serving

Directions

In a large bowl, toss the chicken with the radishes, onion, mint and cumin.
Stir in the raita and season with salt and cayenne. Serve with lime wedges and warmed pita.

Serves 6.

Cumin-Scented Carrot Raita

2/3 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 carrots, coarsely shredded
2 scallions, white and tender green parts only, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro leaves
Salt
Cayenne pepper

Spoon the yogurt into a coffee filter set in a strainer and let stand until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Transfer the yogurt to a medium bowl.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a small skillet. Add the garlic and cumin seeds and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the carrots and scallions and cook, stirring, until just heated through.
Add the carrot mixture and the cilantro to the drained yogurt and season with salt and cayenne. Serve the raita warm, at room temperature or chilled.

Makes 2/3 cup.

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Indian Rice and Lentils with Raita

partysugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:12:48 -0700

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