Suraikkai Sadham (Bottlegourd Rice)

Category:  Lunch / Rice
Preparation Time: 10 mins  
Cooking Time: 30 mins
Servings: 3 Servings 

Suraikkai Sadham / Bottlegourd Rice - I adapted from my mom's recipe:) Its a nice way to include vegetables like bottlegourd to the picky eaters:)

Suraikkai Sadham

 Ingredients:

• Rice - 1 cup
• Bottlegourd - 1 small to medium sized
• Tomato, chopped- 2 nos
• Onion, thinly sliced - 1 no
• Green chillies, slitted - 2-3 (adjust spiciness)
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Annasi poo - 1
• Bay leaf - 1
• Oil - 1 - 2 tbsp
• Salt - to taste 
• Water - around 2 cups

·         Grind to paste:

• Ginger - 1 1/2 inch piece
• Garlic cloves - 4-5 nos
• Cinnamon - 1 inch piece
• Cloves - 3 nos
• Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
• Poppy seeds - 1/2 tsp

Method:

1. Soak rice in enough water for atleast 30 mins
2. Grind the above given ingredients into fine paste by adding little water
3. Peel off the skin and finely chop the bottlegourd and keep it ready
   
4. Heat oil in the pan / pressure cooker, once it's hot, add Annasi poo and Bay leaf, fry for 30 secs
   
5. Add green chillies and onions, saute well till onions become soft and transparent
   
6. Add chopped tomatoes, little salt and turmeric powder, saute well for 5 mins till it turns mushy
   
7. Then add the ground paste, saute for 2 mins till nice aroma arises
   
8. Add the chopped bottlegourd pieces and saute for 2-3 mins, Add required salt and mix well
   
   
   
   
9. Add required water (around 2 cups-depend on the rice variety) and bring to boil
   
10. Add the soaked and drained rice, mix well; Check for salt
    
11. Cook for 2 whistles and reduce the flame to low for 5 mins
12. Switch off and wait till the pressure releases
13. Serve hot as such or with Raita or Curd!