Keerai Sadam

Keerai (Greens) of any edible vegetable is always a healthy option. We will use Amaranth Greens (also known as Arai Keerai and Siru Keerai in Tamil, Chowli in Hindi) to make a delicious tasty rice dish here. It does not require any special side dish to go with. You can serve with a pickle if required. It is a very easy and simple dish to make. Let us see.

Ingredients:

For the Spice Powder:

Oil – 1 tsp

Cashew Nuts – 10 to 12

Dried Red Chillies – 2

Bengal Gram (Chana Dal) – 1 tbsp and 1 tsp

Coriander Seeds – 1 tsp

Urad Dal – 1 tsp

Saunf – ½ tsp

Curry Leaves – from 1 sprig

For the main Rice:

Cooked Rice – 3 cups

Oil – 2 tbsp

Mustard Seeds – 1 tsp

Urad Dal- 1 tbsp

Channa Dal – 1 tbsp

Curry Leaves – from 1 sprig

Onion – 1 (finely chopped)

Amaranth Greens (Chowli Bhaji / Arai Keerai / Siru Keerai) – 2 cups                              (Tightly packed)

Sugar – ½ tsp to retain the green color of the leaves

Cooked Rice – 2 cups

Salt – to suit one’s taste

Method:

Wash and clean the Keerai twice or thrice to remove all the dirt and dust, rinse. And then chop them finely. Keep aside

Let us prepare the spice powder first.

Heat a tsp of Oil in a pan. Roast the Cashew Nuts golden in it. Transfer to a small plate and keep aside. Roast the dried Chillies in it for a minute. Add Channa Dal, Coriander Seeds, Urad Dal, Saunf and Curry Leaves and roast in medium flame till the Dal turns golden brown. Allow them to cool and then grind to a coarse powder. Keep aside.

Heat 2 tbsp of Oil in a pan. Add Mustard Seeds, Channa Dal and Urad Dal. Stir them a few seconds. Add Curry Leaves and continue frying till the Dal turns golden.

Add the finely chopped Onion. Sauté them translucent.

Add the washed and chopped Greens. Sauté till the greens wilts lightly. Add a little salt. Mix well. Add the cooked Rice, the spice powder which we prepared. Add Salt as required.  Mix well till the Rice is coated evenly with the spice powder. Simmer for 2 more minutes in low medium flame covered with a lid. Add the roasted Cashew Nuts. Mix well.

 The healthy tasty delicious Keerai Sadam is ready.  

 Note:

You can use any rice for this recipe (not necessarily Basmati Rice.)

You can use even left over rice if you have any.