Beetroot Pulao- Lunch Box Recipe


            Beetroot Pulao is one of my favorite rice which is super nutritious, delicious and beautiful to look rice. Beetroot rice is a one pot meal made with onion, tomatoes and aromatic Indian spices. This is my mom’s recipe and I do this flavorful dish for lunch. Good to pack for lunch box.  It goes well with raita ( onion or carrot or cucumber) and appalam or rice crackers.

  
     Ingredients

          1 Cup of Basmathi Rice
          1 Large Beetroot, Diced
          1 Large Onion, Finely Chopped
          2 Green Chillies, Finely Chopped
          2 Medium Size Tomatoes, Puree
          1 Tsp of Red Chilly Powder, Heaping
          1/2 Tsp of Garam Masala Powder
          2 Tbsp of Yogurt/ Thick Curd
          2 Garlic Cloves, Crushed
          1/2 ” Ginger, Crushed
          5-6 Mint Leaves
          1 Tbsp of  Lemon Juice
          1 and 1/2 Cup of Water
          Salt to taste

      To Temper

          3 Tsp of Oil or Ghee
          1/2 Tsp of Fennel / Sombhu
          1 Medium Size Cinnamon
          2 Cloves
          1 Cardamom

      To Garnish

            Few Spirg of Cilantro / Coriander leaves, Chopped
     
     
      Method

  • Soak rice for 30 mins, wash and drain it. Keep this aside.
  • Heat oil / ghee in a cooker, add all the ingredients listed under ” To Temper ” add one by one and fry for a min.
  • Add ginger- garlic paste, fry until raw smell vanishes.
  • Add chopped onion, green chillies, mint and little salt, fry for 1-2 mins until it turns golden brown color.
  • Add chopped tomatoes and fry until oil separates.
  • Add chopped beetroot, mix well with the onion and tomatoes and cook for 1-2 mins by adding little water.
  • Add sambhar powder and garam masala, saute it for 1-2 mins with onion-tomato- beetroot mixture.
  • Add thick curd to it and mix well.
  • Add soaked and washed rice, to it and fry well masala.
  • Add required water and salt. Cover the cooker with a lid and pressure cook for 2 whistles and switch off the stove.
  • Finally add some lemon juice to the rice and mix well.
  • Garnish it with chopped cilantro / Coriander leaves. 



    Tips

  • Serve this dish with onion or carrot raita.
  • Rice and water ratio is 1 : 1.5 Cups of water or coconut milk.
  • You can use fried onion instead of raw onions.
  • Adjust spicyness according to your taste.
  • Adding ghee gives a nice flavor to the rice. 

    Health Benefits of Beets

  • They are zero in saturated fat and trans fat.
  • They are high in carbohydrates.
  • Rich in viamin A, C, sodium, magnesium, iron, phosphorous and folic acid.
  • Beet has a natural pigment called betacyanin, helps to fight against cancer.
  • Blood purifier.