Author Notes
Sesame is one of the original food ingredients that's been around in Indian cuisine for just about EVER, along with turmeric and Long pepper. It was a vital source of fats and vital micro nutrients, not to mention it probably was an extremely prolific crop, essential to early civilization. While Sesame is extensively used in daily cooking, most often as oil, There are dishes dedicated as spiritual offerings that use the black variety to good use. One such dish is the traditional Sesame Rice usually made on Saturdays, the day dedicated to 'Shani' or Saturn. the presiding deity responsible for plying human beings with adverse or trying times in life.
The rebel in me tends to take the route of believing that for such trying times, such a delicious tasting dish is more than welcome as comfort food.
I've made this particular recipe with equal quantities of black and white sesame seeds, for the color and a deeper flavor that the black variety confers, but feel free to use just one type. —Panfusine
Ingredients
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1/4 cup
black sesame seeds
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1/4 cup
white sesame seeds (unpolished with the outer hull intact)
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2
Arbol chiles
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4 cups
cooked Basmati rice
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1 tablespoon
mustard seeds
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1 tablespoon
Split dehusked Urad Dal
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1/4 cup
Broken Cashewnuts
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1 sprig
curry leaves, torn
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1 -2 tablespoons
coconut palm or muscovado sugar (or powdered jaggery) (Optional)
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Salt to taste
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2-3 tablespoons
untoasted sesame oil (as required)
Directions
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Fluff up the cooked basmati rice in a large mixing bowl
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Toast the sesame seeds along with one of the arbol chile broken into bits until the seeds pop (the heat will cause the chile bits to brown beautifully). Allow to cool, transfer to a coffee mill and pulse about 10 times to obtain a coarse blend. Set aside.
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Heat the Sesame oil in a skillet until it glistens. Add the mustard seeds, the remaining Arbol chile the split Urad dal, once the mustard sputters and the dal turns golden, add the torn curry leaves , cashews and salt into the oil. Allow the Cashews to turn color and pour this whole mix into the basmati rice.
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Add the sesame powder to the rice and fold it until all the ingredients are well combined and the sesame coats the grains of rice evenly. Sprinkle the sugar as required and serve warm.
A biomedical engineer/ neuroscientist by training, currently a mommy blogger on a quest for all things food - Indian Palate, Global perspective!
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