Korma Rice Recipe Video by Tarla Dalal

With good doses of milk, fresh cream, ghee, cashews and poppy seeds, korma rice is undoubtedly rich fare, but surprisingly it is not too spicy as it uses only moderate doses of common spices and powders. Plus, the use of moong sprouts in the korma gives a healthy twist to the recipe.

Preparation Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 20 mins
Baking time:  20 to 25 minutes
Baking temperature:  180 C (360 F).
Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

For The Rice

1 1/2 cups rice (chawal) , soaked and drained

2 tbsp ghee
2 cardamoms
2 sticks cinnamon (dalchini)
2 cloves (laung / lavang)
2 bayleaves
salt to taste
2 pinches turmeric powder (haldi)

To Be Grounded Into A Cashew-poppy Seeds Paste (using Little Water)

1 tbsp broken cashewnuts (kaju)

1 tbsp poppy seeds (khus-khus)

For The Korma

1 1/2 cups moong (whole green gram) sprouts
2 tbsp ghee
1 tsp ginger-garlic (adrak-lehsun) paste
1 cardamom (elaichi)
1/2 cup grated onions
1 tsp coriander (dhania) powder
1 tsp chilli powder
3/4 cup blanched and chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup milk
1 tbsp fresh cream
salt to taste

Other Ingredients

oil for greasing
2 tbsp milk

Method 
For the rice

1. Heat the ghee in a kadhai, add the cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and bayleaves and sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds.
2. Add the rice and sauté on a medium flame for 1 minute.
3. Add 3 cups of hot water, salt and turmeric powder, mix well and cover and cook on a medium flame for 8 to 10 minutes or till the rice is cooked.
4. Divide the rice into 3 equal portions and keep aside.

For the korma

1. Heat the ghee in a deep kadhai, add the ginger-garlic paste and cardamom and sauté on a medium flame for a few seconds.
2. Add the onions and sauté on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Add the coriander powder, chilli powder, tomatoes and cook on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes.
4. Add the moong sprouts, ½ cup of water and salt and cook on a medium flame for 5 to 7 minutes, while stirring occasionally. Keep aside.
5. Combine the cashew - poppy seeds- paste, milk and fresh cream in a bowl and add it to the moong sprouts mixture. Mix well and cook on a medium lame for 1 to 2 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
6. Divide the korma into 2 equal portions and keep aside.

How to proceed

1. Grease a microwave safe baking bowl with oil, put 1 portion of rice in it and spread it evenly using the back of a spoon.
2. Put 1 portion of the prepared korma over it and spread it evenly.
3. Again spread a portion of the rice and korma evenly over it.
4. Finally add the remaining portion of rice over it and spread it evenly.
5. Pour the milk over it, cover with a lid and bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 c for 15 to 20 minutes or microwave on high for 5 to 7 minutes.
6. Just before serving, turn upside down on a big serving plate.
7. Serve immediately.

Handy tip:

1. If you wish to microwave the rice at step 5, ensure to use a microwave safe lid.

Recipe Source: Korma Rice by Tarla Dalal