Matar Paneer, Jeera Rice and Kachumber Salad

Ingredients

• 1.5 cup Basmati Rice (Long-grain is preferred)
• 3 cup Water (For cooking the rice)
• 2 tbsp Ghee (Can be substituted with a neutral oil)
• 1.5 tsp Cumin Seeds (Also known as Jeera)
• 1 Bay Leaf (Medium-sized)
• 1 inch Cinnamon Stick
• 3 Cloves
• 2 Green Cardamom Pods (Lightly crushed to release flavor)
• 1 tsp Salt (Adjust to taste)
• 2 tbsp Coriander Leaves (Finely chopped, for garnish)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the Rice

   • Place the basmati rice in a fine-mesh sieve and rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear. This removes excess starch and prevents stickiness.
   • Transfer the rinsed rice to a bowl and cover with fresh water. Let it soak for 20-30 minutes.
   • After soaking, drain the rice completely using the sieve and set it aside.
2. 2

   Temper the Spices (Tadka)

   • Heat ghee in a medium-sized pot or a deep pan with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat.
   • Once the ghee is hot, add the cumin seeds. Allow them to sizzle and become fragrant, which should take about 30-45 seconds. Do not let them burn.
   • Add the bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves, and lightly crushed green cardamom pods. Sauté for another 30 seconds until the spices release their aroma.
3. 3

   Sauté and Cook the Rice

   • Add the drained rice to the pot with the tempered spices. Gently sauté for 1-2 minutes, stirring carefully to coat each grain with ghee without breaking them.
   • Pour in 3 cups of water and add the salt. Give it one gentle stir to combine everything.

Ingredients

• 200 g Red Onion (about 2 medium, finely chopped)
• 240 g Tomato (about 2 medium, deseeded and finely chopped)
• 300 g Cucumber (about 1 large, peeled and finely chopped)
• 1 pc Green Chili (optional, finely chopped)
• 2 tbsp Lemon Juice (freshly squeezed)
• 3 tbsp Coriander Leaves (freshly chopped)
• 0.5 tsp Salt (or to taste)
• 0.25 tsp Kashmiri Red Chili Powder (for color and mild heat)
• 0.5 tsp Chaat Masala
• 0.5 tsp Roasted Cumin Powder (bhuna jeera powder)

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the Vegetables (8 minutes)

   • Wash all vegetables thoroughly.
   • Peel the cucumber and finely chop it. Deseed the tomatoes and finely chop them.
   • Finely chop the red onion. If using, finely chop the green chili.
   • Place all the chopped vegetables into a large mixing bowl.
2. 2

   Combine and Season (1 minute)

   • Add the roasted cumin powder, chaat masala, Kashmiri red chili powder, and salt to the bowl with the vegetables.
   • Pour the freshly squeezed lemon juice over the mixture.
3. 3

   Toss and Serve (1 minute)

   • Add the freshly chopped coriander leaves.
   • Gently toss everything together until the vegetables are evenly coated with spices.
   • Serve immediately to enjoy the best texture and crunch. Do not let it sit for long after adding salt.