FRIED RICE

I think this is the one recipe that I have not changed ever since I started cooking. My mother makes this same recipe and I followed suit.

RECIPE

For cooking the rice

1. 2 cups basmati rice soaked in water for 20 minutes
2. 12 cups water
3. 3 and 1/2 tsp salt

For making the fried rice

1. 1/2 of a medium onion(100 gms.)
2. 3 medium size carrots(300 gms.) or 150 gms each  of carrots and cabbage
3. 1/2 of a medium sized capsicum(100 gms.)
4. 1/4 cup coriander leaves chopped
5. 1 tsp salt(for the vegetables)
6. 2 Tbsp ginger garlic paste.
7. 3 Tbsp. oil

METHOD

Cooking the rice

• Bring a big pot with 10 cups of water to boil. Put in the washed and drained basmati rice. Cover and cook. Bring it to a boil.
  

  

  
  
  

  

  
  
  

  
• When the rice begins to boil ,  turn off the stove,  add 3 and 1/2 tsp of salt, and keep it covered for 8 minutes. After 8 minutes turn on the stove and bring to boil again. 
  
• Now drain the rice. Keep aside.

Making the fried rice

• Chop the onion , carrots , cabbage (if using) by hand or in a chopper. These vegetables can be mixed together. They are sautéed together , so it doesn't matter if mixed . Chop the capsicum . The chopped capsicum and coriander leaf(chopped) can be mixed together.
  

  

• Heat a heavy bottom cheena chatti(wok) . Put in 1 Tbsp oil  ,add the carrot ,onion and cabbage (If using)  mixture into the cheena chatti and sauté for 1 minute on high flame . Add the capsicum and coriander mixture ans sauté on high flame for 2 minutes.

• Remove the sautéed vegetables on to  plate and salt it (about 1/2 tsp). No need to mix.
• In the same pan add 2 Tbsp ginger garlic paste(I have used frozen cubes) .Add 2 Tbsp. oil and sauté until the raw smell goes and the paste starts sticking to the pan.
  
  
  

• Add the cooked rice. Do not stir . Put in the vegetables on top of the rice. Dab it tightly on the rice. Cover and keep. Do not stir for atleast 1/2 an hour.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• After 1/2 an hour take a big slotted steel spoon and mix the rice ,shoveling it from the sides into the middle . Do this gently.
  
  
  
• Fried rice is ready.

 NOTES

• I like my rice a little more than al dente(just right). Not overcooked though.
• Capsicum cannot be avoided. Its flavor is necessary.
• If you are making the fried rice for a Chinese dish ,then adding cabbage gives it a chinese taste.

CHOPPING

• I use a Vidalia chopper for chopping the  vegetables. My friend suggested this and chopping vegetable has been a breeze ever since.