Brinji Rice

The leaves of Bay tree is called as Brinji ilai  in Tamil. This Rice use Bay leave as a main flavoring spice & Excellent lunch box recipe too...

Ingredients:

Basmati rice - 1 cup
Mixed vegetables - 1/2 cup ( Carrot, beans, peas, potatoes, cauliflower can be used)
Meal maker or soy chunks - 1/4 cup
Onion - 1 big ( sliced lengthwise)
Tomato - 1 medium ( cubed into big pieces)
Green chili - 4 or 5 ( slit into 2)
Ginger Garlic paste - 2tsp
Red chili powder - 1/2 tsp or to taste.
Mint & cilantro leaves - 2 tbsp (minced)
Coconut milk - 1/2 cup
Cashew paste - 1 tbsp (optional)
Water - 1 1/2 cup for rice & 1 cup for soy chunks.
Oil - 2 tbsp
Ghee -2 tbsp
Salt to taste.

For Seasoning:

Bay leaves - 2 or 3
Cinnamon - 1"
Cardamom - 2
Fennel seed - 1/4 tsp

Method:

Wash & soak rice for 15 mins, Drain & keep it aside.Boil 1 cup of water & add soy chunks to it.When it become soft Take it from heat & allow it to cool.Drain & squeeze the excess water from cooked soy chunks & keep it aside.Heat Oil & Ghee in a pressure pan and add seasoning ingredients.Add Onion & green chili and saute until onion become soft.Add vegetables & soy chunks and saute for 3 mins.Now add Ginger garlic paste & stir until raw smell disappear.Then add Tomato, Red chili powder and required salt & saute a minute.Taste & adjust the salt & spice.Pour 1 1/2 cup of water & coconut milk and  bring to boil.At this stage add rice & cilantro mint leaves.When mixture starts boiling, cover the pan & low the heat.Cook for 10 mts & turn off the heat. ( if cooking in  pressure cooker weight for 10 mins but do not cook anymore.)Open the pan after 15 mins & transfer to serving bowl.