Urad Dal Rice | Ulundhanchoru | Rice Recipe | Ulundhu Sadham | Ulundhu Choru |

Perfectly cooked Rice flavored with urad dal and Fenugreek. Enjoy these aromatic Ulundhanchoru (Urad dal Rice) with mutton curry or any curry or lentil.

This particular recipe is a popular South Indian dish from Tirunelveli where Black Lentil (Urad Dal) is combined with rice to make a hearty dish.

Minimally spiced, easy to put together with few ingredients, its a complete protein meal. The simplicity of this dish makes this a winner in my eyes.

My mom would always make Ulundhanchoru for a non-veg treat at home, so I always prefer this rice over plain rice on such days. So this recipe has been in my repertoire and makes for a great lunch box option along with non-veg curries or just as it is, along with a vegetarian side dish.

While you can use Whole Urad Dal, split or skinned for this recipe – I would recommend using whole black lentil for absorption of the nutrients & the taste. As I haven’t been able to get whole black urad dal here in Japan, I’ve made it with skinned ones. But I highly recommend trying it out with whole ones. Oh..and add a sprig of curry leaves while sautéing this Rice and you will love the aroma of it.

Ulundhanchoru is so much more flavorful. Goes well with any side dish, but eating it with Mutton Curry gives an optimal boost. The vegetarians serve it with Ellu Thuvaiyal (Sesame Chutney) which is also an adorable combination. Here are some of the other recipes which pairs well with this rice,

Kerala Chicken Curry

Pepper Chicken

Squid Curry / Kanava Kuzhambu

Chettinad Egg Curry

Prawns Masala

Perfect for all those times when you are lack on time. Or when you just want to make nutritious. Or even when you want to make something special. It fits all the needs. And that’s what simplicity of this dish is all about 🙂 🙂 I know it sounds too much but trust me, this whole thing would take you just 20 minutes to put together.

Let’s start making these yummilicious Ulundhanchoru…


Ingredients

  • 1 cup, Rice (any variety)
  • 3/4 cup, Urad Dal
  • 1 tsp Mustard Seeds
  • 1 tbsp Fenugreek Seeds
  • A sprig of Curry leaves
  • Salt
  • 3 1/2 cups, Coconut Milk (Thin)
  • 1 tbsp, Coconut Oil

Cooking Instructions

  1. Rinse rice and dal together and set aside.
  2. In a pan or pressure cooker, add a tbsp of coconut oil. When hot, temper with mustard, fenugreek and curry leaves.
  3. Add the rice and dal mixture and fry until nice aroma wafts, almost a minute.
  4. Season with Salt. Add in 3 1/2 cups of thin coconut milk (1:2 ratio), you may add more if you like a mushier rice.
  5. Pressure cook for two whistles. (I’ve used an electric rice cooker today).
  6. Once done, serve hot with curry of your choice.


Special Notes:

  • Coconut oil gives a nice flavour to the curry. If you’re not comfortable with the flavour, feel free to use any vegetable oil.
  • Coconut milk makes the rice richer. Can be cooked with water alone.
  • Seasoning with fenugreek and curry leaves elevates the taste. But add in moderation as it turns bitter when sautéed until brown.


If you like this recipe, Do not forget to leave a comment at the end of the post.

Did you make this recipe? If yes, do let me know how it turned out in the comments below. Do share a picture on instagram with hashtag #CookedFromHungrystomach and tag us @hungry.stomach.japan

Mushroom Pulao Recipe/ Easy Mushroom Pilaf

We all love eating and there are times when we love to gulp in some really good food. What if you are in a hurry, just don’t have access to nearby restaurants or not to spend much time on cooking and you still feel like gorging on some yummy delicacy?

Pulao comes to the rescue!!!!!!!!!!!

Pulao/Pilaf is one of the common rice dishes being made in most Indian houses today. Pulao is an one pot meal cooked with assortment of dry spices and veggies. The uniqueness of the dish lies in the use of cardamom, cloves and peppercorns which make this pulao flavoursome and delightful.

Voilaaah.. I won’t call this as one authentic recipe but it never fails to give the typical aroma. This one pot meal does not require any elaborate steps. So if you are in a hurry packing office/school lunches, but still want to make your lunchbox special, then go for this. So you definitely won’t be disappointed.

Made from fresh ingredients, this is one of the best Pulao I have ever had in a while.  Look no further make the easiest pulao. Made in rice cooker. Can be made in pressure cooker too. With step by step pictures.


Author: Nathiya Adiseshan
Cuisine: Indian
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 3 servings

Ingredients:

Curry Paste:

  • 4 sprigs Coriander Leaves
  • 4 cloves of Garlic
  • 4 Green Chillies
  • 1-inch piece of Ginger
  • 1 tablespoon Peppercorns

Using a mortar and pestle, pound the abovesaid ingredients coarsely and keep aside. This will become our curry paste.

For the Pulao:

  • 2 Cloves
  • Small stick of Cinnamon
  • 1 Star Anise
  • 1 Cardamom 
  • 10 Cashewnuts,chopped (optional) 
  • 1 Onion, (big) thinly sliced
  • 12 ounces Mushrooms (any variety)
  • 1 1/4 cup Basmati Rice
  • 2 Cups Water
  • 2 tablespoon Ghee
  • 2 tablespoon Oil
  • Salt, to taste

Making of Mushroom Pulao…..

  1. Wash rice, drain water and let it stand, start the next step straightaway.
  2. In a pressure cooker/ heavy bottomed pan, heat ghee and oil, add spices one by one, once they start to crackle, add cashews, fry until golden brown.
  3. Add in Onions, saute till it turns golden. (Add salt to quicken up the process here).

    temp 5
    Add Onions, and fry until golden.
  4. Now, add in the ground paste and fry until the raw smell disappears.

    temp 8
    Add the ground paste and fry until the raw smell disappears.
  5. Add mushrooms, fry on high for 2 minutes.

    temp 3
    Add Mushrooms and saute well.
  6. Stir in the rice and fry until it is all well coated with the masala. Now add required salt and mix everything well.

    temp 6
    Add rice & salt.
  7. Add 2 cups of water to every cup of rice used and if pressure cooking, keep for 1 whistle and 5 minutes on low flame.

    temp 9
    Add in water, bring it to boil
  8. Switch off and wait for the pressure to release fully. Open and fluff up gently with a fork.

    temp 10
    Tadaah……. It’s done!!!!!
  9. Serve with any curry of your choice.

    temp-11.png
    Spicy and flavour packed one pot meal kinda Mushroom Pulao, perfect for busy mornings..

Special Note:

  • Another to way accentuate the taste and aroma of this recipe, you can dry roast the spices, grind it and then add it to the Pulao.
  • Peppercorns gives the heat to the recipe. If you want a really spicy pulao, you can add a couple of slit green chillies extra. But I prefer mild one
  • Add lot of mushrooms for an excellent earthy flavour.
  • If cooking in the electric rice cooker, bring the water and rice to a boil and cook till the pulao is done.