Swetha's Fusion

Cabbage Rice | Quick and Easy Cabbage Rice | Cabbage Rice bhath

Tuesday, July 07, 2020

My sister and I love this Cabbage rice bhath which my mom used to make occasionally. My mom was not a big fan of using cabbage a lot in her cooking as it make one feel bloated with gas after :D

Anyway, it looks and tastes exquisite, but in fact it is very simple and quick to make.

Don't know from where or from whom my mom got this recipe, but she used to call it Mexico-Bhath. Well, we din't know much about it nor about Mexico then and there was no internet either. Well now, if I look-up, only result I get is Spanish rice ( Tomato rice or Salsa rice) ...not even close. Well, at our house we still refer to it as Mexico rice-bhath, though it is not from Mexico :P

Here is my mom's simple recipe. Unlike pulao or biryani where rice grains are preferred separated, cabbage rice is moist and texture on the mushy side. Regular white rice is used not basmati rice. I used 'sona masoori' rice in this recipe.

Ingredients:

1 cup - Sona Masoori Rice
2 cup - Cabbage (chopped)
1 cup - Onion (chopped)
½ cup - Green peas
¼ cup - Carrot (grated)
1 tsp - Garam Masala powder
2 tbsp - Sambar Powder
1 tsp - Turmeric powder
1 tsp - Red chili powder (or as per taste)
1 tbsp - Tamarind paste
½ tsp - Jaggery powder
½ cup - grated fresh coconut
Oil - as needed
Salt as per taste

Method:

Rinse rice and cook with 3 cups of water.
Once done, spread it on a big plate or a wide tray and keep aside to cool it down.
In a food processor, add coconut, garam masala powder, samber powder, turmeric powder, chili powder and tamarind paste to the jar. Add ¼ cup of water and grind it to smooth paste. [Note: you could just grind the coconut and then add rest of the ingredients later]
Heat a wide pan on medium flame. Add 2 tsp of oil and cut onion. Roast it until translucent.
Now add, cabbage, carrot and peas and bit of salt.

Mix it all together, cover and let it cook for about 4 to 5 minutes or half done.

You will notice that cabbage with leave water and reduce in size. Now, add the ground masala. Mix it all together, cover and continue to cook for about 5 minutes or until the raw smell is gone.

Turn down the flame to low, add the cooked rice to the cabbage mixture.

Mix it all together, cover and let it cook on low for few more minutes.
Cabbage rice bhath is ready.
Serve hot with Onion-Tomato Raita and potato-chips or mixture (spicy and savory bhujia and boondi mix) on the side.