South Indian style Blue rice, Butterfly pea flower rice
South Indian style Blue rice, Butterfly pea flower rice is a treat for eyes and interesting to prepare. I have made it in south Indian style by adapting from original Malaysian Nasi Kerabu.
Servings: 3
Ingredients
- 12 Butterfly pea flower (dry) sangu poo/ Aparajita flower
- 2 stalks Lemon grass crushed - Optional
- ½ cup Basmati rice
- 1 lemon
- Salt
To temper
- 2 teaspoon Oil
- ½ teaspoon Mustard
- 1 teaspoon urad dal
- 1 teaspoon chana dal
- 1 teaspoon ginger
- 2 green chilli
- 1 sprig curry leaves
Instructions
- Take a sauce pan. Add 1 cup water and bring to boil. In goes the butterfly pea flower. I added some crushed lemon grass but it is optional.
- Switch off stove and close with a lid. Let it steep for 15 minutes. In between you can give it a stir.
- Now, wash rice well 2-3 times or until the washed water drains clear. Soak in hot water for 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes, fish out the flowers and lemon grass. You can eventually filter too. Start heating and bring to boil.
- Now, drain water from rice completely. Add it to the boiling blue water.
- Sprinkle required salt. Bring to boil again.
- Put the flame to low and cook covered for 12-14 minutes or until all the water is absorbed. Do not cook in higher heat.
- Check the bottom of pan for water. Switch off stove and fluff gently. Keep covered.
- Do not worry even if some rice is stuck to the pan. The standing time will loosen up the rice making it soft.
- After 10 minutes, the rice will be softer and fluffier.
- Now heat a small pan with oil. Splutter mustard firstly, then add urad dal, chana dal followed by ginger, green chillies and curry leaves.
- Transfer to the rice. Drizzle lemon juice and quickly give it a mix.
- The color will apparently change to purple as lemon reacts with the rice it touches. Yet the blue hue will be there. It's done.
Video
Notes
- You can do this in pressure cooker as well just like you cook rice regularly. Instead of water, use the flower infused water.
- Soaking rice in hot water gives longest grain. Do try it.