Betel leaf rice

Betel Leaves gives lot of healthy benefits to our body. In India, we use it on special occasions and also as an offering to god.  I don't know what to do with them so just got an idea to explore how would it taste if i do some variety rice with it and  i decided to try it immediately. My husband was little bit hesitant before trying this rice. But then it has been included in our weekly menu. I’m sure most of us doesn’t know that we can prepare a lot of healthy recipes with this leaf. When i asked for 20 leaves in a shop, they asked whether there is any function in my home. I replied them that I’m going to use this to prepare rice. They were shocked. How could we use betel leaf to prepare rice?? This was the question on my mom face too  

Ingredients:

• 1 cup – Basmati rice (uncooked)
• 3 or 4 nos – Betel leaves / vetrilai (remove stalk and chopped finely)
• 4 or 5 nos – Garlic (chopped)
• 1/4 tsp – Turmeric powder
• Salt to taste

For grinding:

• 1 tsp – Sesame seeds (i used white sesame)
• 1/4 tsp – Peppercorns
• 2 nos – Dry red chillies
• 3 pinches – Dry ginger powder / sukku

For seasonings:

• 1 1/2 tbsp – Sesame oil
• 1/4 tsp – Fennel seeds / sombu
• 1 no – Cinnamon stick (small)
• 5 nos – Fresh curry leaves

Preparation method:

1. Wash and soak rice for 30 mins. Pressure cook rice (raw rice 1:2 ratio) for 3 to 4 whistles or until well cooked. Spread the rice in a wide plate and allow them to cool completely.
2. Dry roast sesame seeds, peppercorns and dry red chillies in a pan and grind it along with dry ginger powder to a fine powder. Set aside.
3. Heat oil in a pan, season with items given in the list for seasonings. Add chopped garlic and saute for few seconds. Then add turmeric powder in the oil and immediately add cooked rice, mix everything well.
4. Finally add chopped betel leaves, ground masala powder and required salt, mix well everything together. Cover and cook for 5 mins or until well cooked, if needed sprinkle some water to avoid drying. Healthy rice is ready to serve.