Ingredients

• 2 cups - coconut milk / plain low fat milk / vegetable stock/water
• 1 cup - basmati rice, soaked in water for at least 30 min
• 1 cup - pearl onions
• 3/4 cup - masoor dal (red lentil), soaked in water for 30 min
• 1/2 cup - peas
• 1 pinch - saffron
• 2 - tomatoes, chopped
• 1 - carrot, chopped
• olive oil/pam spray
• For the paste:
• 2 to 3 cloves - garlic
• 1 inch piece - ginger
• 3 tsp - coriander seeds
• 3 tsp - poppy seeds (khus khus)
• 2 tsp - cumin seeds
• 1 tsp - fennel seeds
• 1 - bay leaf
• 1 - cardamom

How to Make Healthy Red Lentil Rice (Masoor Dal Pulao)

• Mix the saffron in lukewarm milk/water/coconut milk. Mix well and cook the rice with this mixture. Cool slightly by spreading in a plate. Add little olive oil/ pam spray in a non-stick pan and saute the pearl onions. Season with salt.
• Add the carrots and peas and cook for 3-4 min till it becomes soft.
• Add the ground paste and stir well till the raw smell leaves, about approx. 5 min.
• Add the masoor dal, saute for a min and then add 1 cup of water.
• Cover and cook for another 10 min till the dal gets cooked.
• Add the rice and mix well. Garnish it with coriander leaves/mint.
• Recipe courtesy: Dhivya Karthik
• http://chefinyou.com/