Else you can see yourself painting, doing that much needed exercise or even just sleeping! I am not saying I did all these but saying I could do all these things.
Yesterday being a Sunday, I again had loads of dishes done. Much to my own amusement, did quite a few of them in Microwave! Well I am sure I am going to be told never to cook again in a microwave.
Sunday was quite fun. We started the day with power outage which lasted for 4 hours. One plus point was the fact that kids actually thought of some games to play rather than the usual TV. Lunch was vegetarian, so made Pappu Chaaru with Beans Parupu Usli. What was different was the fact that I made the Parupu Usli in Microwave! Well I know I know, you will surely get to read about it.
Then I made Carrot Halwa as I had invited a friend for dinner. Kids had a major fun time with my friend. By the time we slept it was well way beyond our usual time.
Cooking Time : 1 hr 15 mins
Cooking Method: Microwave mode, default setting.
Cooking the Dal
Using a ladle, mash the dal well.
Roast the cashews in 1 tsp of ghee.
Soak the tamarind for extracting the pulp, else you can use if you have already prepared ahead.
Have all the vegetables ready for use
After doing the curry leaves, add the onions, tomatoes together. Micro for 5 mins.
The tomatoes will be nicely mashed
Then goes the Sambar powder.
Mix well and again micro for 2 min.
Add the chopped vegetables, micro again for 5 mins. Sprinkle some water for the vegetables to get steamed.
Check if the water is enough and the rice is getting cooked.
Stir again and keep it back!
At this stage it looked it needed some water, so added it.
Add the remaining cup of water. Add more if it is required.
At this stage when the rice looks well cooked, add the tamarind extract, salt and fried Cashews.
End of 30 - 40 mins, the rice is really well done.
How to make Sambar Rice in Microwave
Toor Dal/ Pigeon Pea - 1 cup
Mixed Vegetables - Carrot, Beans, Peas, Radish, Drumstick, Brinjal (I used only first 4)
Onions - 1 medium (Shallot is the best)
Tomatoes - 2 medium
Sambar Powder - 1 & 1/2 tsp
Curry Leaves few
Cashew Nuts- 5 whole
Salt to taste
Oil - 2 -3 tsp
Mustard Seeds, Urad dal - 1/2 tsp
Tamarind Extract - 1-2 tsp
Water - 2 & 1/2 for dal
for making the rice - 7 cups
Method to prepare:
Wash and Soak rice for 15 - 20 mins.
Cooking the Dal
Cooking Toor dal is quite difficult as it is very hard. So to easy the process, you can wash and soak it in hot water. For that micro 2 glasses of water for 3 mins, soak the toor dal in the hot water with lid covered for 10 mins. Else this might take about 20 - 25 mins of micro cooking.
Using a ladle, mash the dal well.
Roast the cashews in 1 tsp of ghee.
Soak the tamarind for extracting the pulp, else you can use if you have already prepared ahead.
Making the masala:
In a microwave safe bowl, take the oil along with mustard, curry leaves, micro for 1 min.
Then add the onions, tomatoes together. Micro for 5 mins. The tomatoes will be nicely mashed.
Add the chopped vegetables, micro again for 5 mins. With the moisture that is already in the bowl, the vegetables will get steamed.
Then goes the Sambar powder. Mix well and again micro for 2 min.
Mix the dal and soaked rice together. Pour the cooked vegetable masala to the rice bowl. Add 6 cups of water. Stir well and micro for 30 mins.
In the intervals of 10 mins, stop and stir well. This step is not really mandatory, you can stir in between 15 mins. But it ensures the rice is cooked well.
At this stage when the rice looks well cooked, add the tamarind extract, salt and fried Cashews. Add the remaining cup of water. Add more if it is required.
End of 30 - 40 mins, the rice is really well done.
Notes: When cooking with Toor dal, always make sure you soak in hot water for best results and quick cooking.
Sambar Rice is supposed to be very gooey, so adding more water is expected. This also ensures that the rice is well cooked.
I have added only few vegetables, you can add as per your preference.
This is simpler way of making Bisi Bela Bath, of course I can't claim this is anyway close to the taste that you get from that. But for a simpler taste you can settle for this.
Check out my other Sambar Rice that was cooked in Pressure Cooker. Well I have one Rice Cooker method too, which might surface sometime.
For those of you are bored to see so many Microwave Recipes, I can't help it. I really got to prove to Hubby dear that his investment has not gone waste..:)
And also I am clueless on what new thing I should prepare. If you have something in mind, ask away!
Until next time, which would be a sweet dwelling, have a great week ahead!
Roopa says
arrey wah, great one ! making it in microwave makes it sound a must make dish :)...thanks for sharing srivalli !
Priya (Yallapantula) Mitharwal says
wonderful recipe Srivalli, beautiful step by step pics.
Satya says
hi srivalli ,
sambar rice looks awesome n tempting ...very detailed explanation ..never made this in microwave ,it will surely help me ...its a gr8 post ..
i am new to ur blog ...u r having a gr8 collection of recipes ..
Priya says
Very comforting food, yummy love it much..
Divya Kudua says
Yum..looks good.I have never made sambar sadam before,in mw or otherwise.This one looks try-able.Good to see that you are using your mw to the full limits,heheh.
kanthi says
Sri valli,what ae step by step demo ,for a all time favourite bissi bille bhath..
Prathibha says
Wow I never did full fledged cooking in microwave..Nice wid d step by step pics...
jayasree says
Valli, you are indeed using ur MW to the full. AS you said, though pressure cooker is the easiest method, you have shown that it is doable in MW. Good job Valli, with the step-by-step pics.
RAKS KITCHEN says
Nice post,this will benefit many for sure!
Niloufer Riyaz says
thanks for sharing a detailed recipe. looks delicious
shifa firoz says
keep on pouring yummy microwave recipes valli! 🙂
Janu says
Lovely Click Valli!! This tempts me to do this at once:)r
Divya Vikram says
Your amazing Valli. I should call you MW Queen!!
Nithu says
Sambar rice looks so tempting. Nice step by step pics.
PJ says
Love sambar Sadham Srivalli.I have never tried in MW coz I usually put everthing in the pressure cooker .Must try this too.
To cook toor dal,I tie the dal in a wet towel for 10 minutes and then powder very coarsely,MW with enough water and dal is cooked.
Happy Cook says
You know valli i have never made sambar rice at home. I know it is really famous in Tamil Nadu, i think i should try them once when i am alone for lunch in the MW method.