Spicy Carrot-Broccoli Rice

Adding Broccoli florets and baby carrots in rice with spices is very healthy and delicious. It is really easy way to serve vegetable who doesn't like to eat vegetables as a side side or salad, especially kids. Broccoli and baby carrots have lots of health benefits. Broccoli is high in fiber, which helps in digestion, prevents constipation, maintains low blood sugar, and curbs overeating. Broccoli also contains magnesium and calcium that help regulate blood pressure.It contains a high amount of potassium, which helps maintain a healthy nervous system and optimal brain function, as well as promotes regular muscle growth. Baby carrots are low in calories. It is a good source of both vitamin A and lutein. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps keep the surface of your eyes healthy. As an antioxidant, Lutein protects your eyes from oxidation and  help to prevent cataracts.

INGREDINETS:

Basmati  Rice – 2 cups

Broccoli florets – 10 nos

Onion, ( big sized, Thinly Sliced)– 1 no

Baby Carrots –  15 nos (cut lengthwise)

Green chillies , (slit lengthwise) – 5 or 6

Ginger, crushed – 2” piece

Garlic pods, crushed  – 2 nos

Bay leaf – 1

Cloves – 3 nos

Cinnamon stick – 1” piece

Fennel Seeds – 1/8 tsp

Cardamom pods – 2 nos

Turmeric Powder – 1/4 tsp

Meat masala – 1/2 tsp (optional)

Bell Pepper ( Thinly Sliced, orange, yellow red, or green color) – 1/8 of a bell pepper

Salt: to taste

Oil/Ghee/Butter  – 2 tbsp

Warm water – 4 cups

METHOD:

• Soak basmati rice for 10 minutes, drain the water completely and keep it aside.
• Place broccoli florets in salted, hot water for 5 minutes. Wash well and place them in a bowl.
• Wash the baby carrots well and cut it lengthwise and place in the same bowl. Keep it aside.
• Slice Green chillies lengthwise, slice bell pepper lengthwise, slice onion and keep it aside.
• Heat Butter/oil/Ghee in a pressure cooker, add bay leaf, cloves, crushed cinnamon stick, Fennel seeds and cardamom pods. Fry for a few seconds .
• Now add turmeric powder  and Meat masala to the pressure cooker and mix well.

• Add the onions ,bell pepper, green chillies and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.

• Now add crushed ginger , crushed garlic  and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.

• To this add the Broccoli florets and baby carrots and salt and mix well.

• Now add drained rice, 4 cups of hot water (check for salt now by tasting the water), mix everything well  and pressure cook for 2 whistles.When the pressure subsides, open it and fluff it with a fork.
• Delicious Spicy Carrot-Broccoli Rice/Carrot-Broccoli Pulao is ready to be served.
• Serve warm with raita or any curry of your choice.

I collected some  information about health benefits of Broccoli and baby carrots from the sites http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/10-health-benefits-of-broccoli.html and http://www.livestrong.com/article/407967-health-benefits-of-baby-carrots/ . If you want to know more, go through these sites.

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