Godhumai Rawai Masala Kitchedi:

You don’t have to make that grumpy face at dinner time, anymore! Is healthy food is scaring you a lot? Prepare it enthusiastically with your favorite spices and treat yourselves with exciting morphed recipes:) Well, its not that the wheat (or cracked wheat for that matter) is less in calories than white polished rice, certainly not! All it has is…some extra fiber and am positive that you guys are aware of the health benefits it possess! So, include them in your diet now and then…try to skip white rice, refined flour and fortified-enriched carbohydrates as much as possible! Besides, these tips are only for people who want to cut down their calories (due to health reasons, like diabetes or obesity or simply to stay fit). One common thing’ that people on strict diet do is to give up eating quality food! No doctor advises you to starve or deny the basic likings for ‘tasty meals’! Just swab fresh produce in place of mere energy foods, tweak your regular meals a little by including healthy ingredients and last but not least, try to get enough physical activity:)I am happy to share this recipe of mine with you all today…I fix this quite often upon request by my social group – relatives n friends! People ranging from senior citizens to adult-kids, who are overwhelmingly alert to stay fit! Oh yeah, I have received lots of appreciation for this:)

Ingredients:

Cracked wheat – 1 cup
Curry leaves few
Green chilies 6-7 slitted
Onion 1 large sliced
Garlic 10-15 cloves
Tomatoes 2 crushed
Mint leaves 1 fistful
Cilantro leaves 1 cup
Salt to taste
Meat/Chicken Broth 2 cups(Vegetarian’s options, Veg broth or thin coconut milk)
Fennel seeds 1 spoon
Peppercorns 1 spoon
Cumin seeds 1 spoon
Cinnamon 1 stick
Cloves 3-5
Cardamom 3 crushed
Black cardamom 1
Bay leaves 1-2
Birinji flower 1
Star Anise 1
Ghee or Oil 1/4.

Method:

Dry toast the cracked wheat and set aside.

Heat oil in a wide, deep-heavy bottomed vessel. Throw in all the whole spices, followed by curry leaves, chilies, garlic and onions. Fry real good, till fragrant.

Followed by mint, cilantro leaves and crushed tomatoes. Fry till oil shows up on the sides.

Now add the veg or meat broth, bring this to boil. Further add the cracked wheat without forming any lumps. Cover and cook over low-medium heat.

Once all the moisture is sucked up, and the pilaf looks glossy enough, remove from heat.

Serve warm along with fresh raitha/pachadi or yogurts.