Kariveppilai Sadham (Curry Leaves Rice)

           Hey guys! Presenting you all the most flavourful and delicious Kariveppilai Sadham. Curry leaf is the most staple ingredient, which is almost used in most of the South Indian recipes. Curry leaves are natural flavoring agents with a number of important health benefits. They not only give your food a pleasant aroma, but can enhance its flavor and health benefits. Curry leaves contain various antioxidant properties, which aid digestive issues and an unhealthy cholesterol balance. They are also believed to have cancer fighting properties. They even helps in strengthening your hair roots and prevent hairfall. So it's very important to add curry leaves in your daily diet. So here is one the yummiest recipe that you can make with the Curry Leaves. And it's so simple to make and healthy at the same time. Now let's move on to the recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

*Rice- 2 cups (I used Ponni raw rice, you can even use Basmati Rice)

*Curry leaves- 1 cup

*Dried curry leaf powder(optional)- 2 to 3 tbspns

*Urad Dhal- 8 tbspns

*Roasted gram dhal powder- 5 to 6 tbspns

(Add 1 cup of Roasted Gram Dhal to mixer jar and grind it to fine powder)

*Dry red chilli- 8

*Jeera- 1 1/2 tbspns

*Pepper corns- 1/2 tbspn

*Mustard seeds- 1 tspn

*Cashew- 1/4 cup

*Hing- 1/2 tspn 

*Salt- as per your taste

*Oil- 2 to 3 tbspns

*Ghee- 2 tspns 

PROCEDURE:

STEP 1:(Cooking rice)

*Wash the rice thoroughly and add water to it . No need to soak the rice.(I added 2 1/2 cups of water for 1 cup of rice. If you add Basmati rice, soak it for 30 mins and cook it by adding 1 1/2 cups of water to 1 cup of rice)

*Add salt and 2 tbspns of oil to the rice, so that the rice won't be sticky. Cook the rice and let it cool.

STEP 2:(Making the Curry leaf powder)

*Heat a pan and add oil. Once the oil is hot, add pepper corns, jeera and fry them for a minute.

*Now add dry red chillies and fry them.

*Once the red chillies are nicely roasted, add the urad dhal and fry it untill it turns golden brown.

*Now that the urad dhal is nice and golden brown, add the fresh curry leaves and saute them until it's nice and crispy.

( You can use the dried curry leaf powder in case if you dont have the fresh curry leaves. When you use dried curry leaf powder, do not add it now, you can add it while mixing the rice, to prevent the powder from burning)

*Now turn off the gas and let the mixture cool down. Once it's cooled, add everything to a mixer jar and grind it into a fine powder. Now the powder is ready.

( You can store the extra powder in an air tight jar for 2 to 3 weeks, and use it later )

STEP3:(Making the Curry leaf Rice)

*Heat a pan and add oil. Once the oil is hot, add mustard seeds, jeera and let it splutter.

*Now add 2 dried red chilli, hing and fresh curry leaves for a hint of extra flavour.

*Now turn off the gas and add 6 to 7 tbspns Curry Leaf Powder that we made earlier, 5 to 6 tbspns of Roasted Gram Dhal Powder and 2 tbsps of Dried Curry Leaf Powder.

(In case if you don't have fresh curry leaves, you can add the dried curry leaf powder now. Add 4 to 5 tbspns of it. I added both to add an extra flavour)

*Mix everything together.

*Now add the rice and give it a stir without breaking the rice. Add salt and mix the rice well without any lumps. 

*Now heat a pan, add ghee, and fry the cahews. Add the fried cashews to the rice and give it a nice stir. Add a pinch of sugar to the rice to enhance the flavour and taste.

*Now the most flavourful and yummy Kariveppilai Sadham is all ready for you to enjoy. Serve hot with Pappad and enjoy!!!