½cupuncooked Basmati RiceI used measuring cup that comes with the rice cooker
1cupWater
¼teaspoonSaltadjust to taste. Tamarind paste had some salt, hence used less
2teaspoonOil
⅛teaspoonMustard Seeds
1Dry Red Chili
2Curry Leaves
1smallGreen Chilislit into 2
1 ½tablespoonPeanutsUse 2 tablespoon for instant pulusu
¼teaspoonFenugreek Powder
Pinchof Turmeric
1 ½tablespoonHome-made Tamarind Paste/Concentrate or Pulihora Pulusu*check notes and adjust to taste
1 - 2 tablespoonWateropt
Instructions
Prep Rice
Wash rice and cook with 1 cup of water. Once done, spread it in a plate or in a wide bowl to cool. Leftover rice also works great here.
Add some salt, pinch of turmeric, mix and keep it aside. If using pulihora pulusu/gojju, mix it to rice.
Tempering when using Pulihora Pulusu
Heat oil in a pan for tempering.
When oil is hot, add mustard seeds, curry leaves and let the seeds crackle.
Throw in peanuts, green chili and let peanuts roast.
Add fenugreek powder (opt since pulusu already has it), turmeric and give a good stir.
Pour over rice and mix it well.
Tempering + Instant Pulusu
Follow above instructions from 1-4. Add one dry red chili along with curry leaves in step 2 and fenugreek powder along with turmeric in step 4.
Add tamarind paste/concentrate, 1 - 2 tablespoon of water and mix well. If you do not have tamarind paste, soak tamarind, extract juice and use it.
Reduce the flame and continue stirring until water is evaporated and tempering blends into tamarind paste. Keep an eye on the tempering as this will take only a few minutes. If using tamarind juice, simmering time will be longer.
Pour it over rice and toss.
Taste the rice and adjust salt to taste. If the rice is tangy, add some sesame seeds powder to reduce the tanginess.
Serve pulihora with tomato shorva or with some yogurt. Pulihora and yogurt is my favorite combo.
Notes
Tamarind - Homemade concentrated tamarind paste is simmered tamarind juice. Pulihora pulusu is seasoned concentrated tamarind paste which is prepared by simmering tamarind extract with fenugreek powder, curry leaves, dry chilies and chana dal. If you do not have either of these, soak some tamarind, extract juice and use it. You need to simmer this juice for more than just a few minutes.
Peanuts - Use more peanuts when preparing tamarind rice with homemade tamarind paste or freshly squeezed tamarind juice.
Chana Dal - You can soak chana dal and add to tempering. I usually avoid it and prefer peanuts instead. However, I do add chana dal to pulihora pulusu, hence use less peanuts in tempering when using pulusu.
Rice - Use basmati, sona masoori or any rice of your choice. But keep the rice grainy. Do not over cook rice. This recipe is a good way to use up leftover rice.