Tiranga Bhat (Rice)

Tiranga Rice is one of my favourite recipes. It is unique in its own way. Best dish to be made during the Indian Independence Day. It has a patriotic touch. Infact, I read an article in The Times of India on Tiranga Rice as a way to salute Mother India. Besides it is a healthy dish to be eaten with dahi raitha and papad. So go on people and enjoy this wonderful recipe.

Ingredients

2 Cups Rice

1 Cup Cottage Cheese

1 Cup Grated Cheese (Optional)

1 Cup Ghee

4 Cardamoms

16 Peppercorns

8 Cloves

2” Piece Ginger

2 Bay Leaves

White Pepper to Taste

Salt to Taste

4 Cups Water

For Orange Rice

½ Tsp Saffron

2 Tbsp Water

1 Carrot (Grated)

Pinch of Edible Yellow colour

1 Portion of Cooked White Rice

For Green Rice

6-7 Stalks Coriander Leaves

2 Medium Green Chilies

750 Gms Peas

2 Cups Water

½ Tsp Salt

1 Portion Cooked Rice

Method

1. Wash and drain the rice. Keep aside for half an hour.
2. Heat ghee, fry the spices for a minute. Add rice and fry for another minute.
3. Add water and salt. Bring to a boil. Cook on slow flame till done. Divide into 3 portions.
4. For the White Rice: Heat one part of ghee in a pan, add chopped onions and fry till transparent add the grated paneer, salt and white pepper and saute for few minutes. Add one portion of the cooked rice and mix well.
5. For the Orange Rice: Heat little ghee in a pan and fry the grated carrots. Lightly heat saffron. Crush. Add 2 tbsp water and yellow colour. Mix well.  Mix one portion of rice with this colour mixture well. Steam for 2-3 mins..
6. For the Green Rice: Grind coriander leaves and green chilies to a fine paste. Add water and salt to peas and cook till done. Drain and mash well. Mix thoroughly other portion of the rice and the grounded spices and mashed peas. Steam for 1-2 mins.
7. To Serve: Place layers of the of the rice with green on the bottom, white in the centre, and orange on top in katoris or individual moulds and press well. Turn out straight on to the plates. You can also take a deep bowl place the green layer at the bottom, add the white layer next and top it with the yellow layer and sprinkle a layer of  the cheese. Bake in oven for sometime, till the cheese melts.

 (Hint: You can also use spinach instead of the coriander).