Little millet known as Samai Arisi in tamil is a very nutritious grain. It can be used as a substitute for rice.

PREP TIME: 10 Mins

COOKING TIME: 20 Mins

Ingredients

Samai rice – 1 cup washed

Mustard – ½ tea spoon

Urad dal – ½ teaspoon

Fennel seeds – ¼ teaspoon

Curry leaves – 2 – sprigs

Bay leaf – 1

Cloves – 2

Cinnamon – ¼ inch piece

Turmeric powder – ¼ teaspoon

Green Chilli – 1

Garlic – 5 pods crushed

Onion – 1 finely sliced

Tomato – 2 sliced

Ginger – ¼ inch piece crushed

Oil – 4 teaspoons

Salt – to taste

Chilli powder – 2 teaspoons

Procedure

STEP 1: Wash the Samai rice and cook the rice with 2.5 cups of water. (The usual ratio to cook rice is 1: 3 but I have reduced the quantity of water to avoid the rice turning mushy). Let it cool down to room temperature.

STEP 2: Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seed, wait for it to splutter, add urad dal, fennel seeds, bay leaf and curry leaves.

STEP 3: Add ginger, garlic, sliced onion and green chilli. Cook till the onions turn golden brown.  Add the sliced tomato.

STEP 4: Once the oil starts separating from the mixture, add turmeric powder, chilli powder and salt. Cook for 5 minutes.

STEP 4: Add in the cooked Samai rice, mix well and serve.

TIP: Healthy “samai tomato rice” ready to be served. It can be served with potato chips, appalam or any pickle.