Coconut Milk Rice/Thengaai Paal Saadham

Coconut Milk Rice / Thengaai Paal Saadham

The first time I tasted this rice was when my mother-in-law made during my initial days of marriage. I became a fan of this rice the very first time I tasted it. She made in a Dabara.  But I make it in pressure cooker too. This is such a simple rice with minimal ingredients. The subtle flavour of coconut milk and the fewer spices makes it good for brunch or lunch or dinner. In this recipe, I prefer to to use diluted coconut milk (that is half of water and half coconut milk) than full coconut milk because the full coconut milk will make the meal heavy or rich and creamy. The use of abundant garlic pods.. them being cooked in coconut milk.. awesome experience for the taste buds! Worth giving it a try.

Coconut milk rice / Thengaai Paal Saadham

Ingredients:

• Raw rice - 2 and 1/2 cups
• Coconut milk - 2 and 1/2 cups
• Water - 2 and 1/2 cups
• Green chillies - 5 to 6
• Garlic - 25 to 30 pods
• Small onions - 300 gms or 25 shallots
• Cinnamon - 4 (2 inch pieces)
• Cloves - 4
• Bay leaves - 2
• Salt to taste 
• Oil - 3 Tablespoons

Procedure:

• Wash and soak the raw rice for at least 30 mins. While the rice is soaking, get ready with the coconut milk. Keep the onions, garlic, green chillies and the other whole spices ready.

• Take a pressure cooker or any wide mouthed pan and heat oil. once hot, add the cinnamon and cloves, bay leaves and followed by green chillies, garlic and small onions.

• Saute these for few mins till the onion turns slightly transparent yet firm. 
• Drain the rice and add to this. Stir and roast the rice for 3 minutes so that they are coated well with oil.

• Now add coconut milk and water and mix up. Add salt and stir well. Check for salt before closing the cooker. (At this stage, we can add a spoon of ghee and saffron for extra flavour. But i did not add this time.)

• Now close the cooker. Once pressure comes, put the weight and let it cook in sim for 10 mins.

• 
• If you r cooking in a wide pan, u can wait till the rice reaches a nice boil, then cover it with a heavy or tight lid, Keep the stove in low, and let it cook for 10 mins.

• After 10 mins, let the pressure reduce by itself, and now the rice is ready to be served. Enjoy this rice with your family.. especially served hot on a rainy night as dinner.. makes u long for more such rainy nights!

This rice goes well with any gravy or lemon pickle or even onion raitha. We have this rice without any side dishes.

Happy cooking !!