Spinach Coconut Rice ~ One pot variety rice/ Lunch-box meal

Planning a lunch box meal is a great challenge to most of us, its easy to get stuck with ideas and get bored preparing the same old recipes over and over again. We always make sure that lunch is full packed meal since breakfast in our house-hold does not happen regularly and adding to this the climate at times is chill doesn't make us hungry. 

I tried this variety rice combining coconut and spinach for the balanced flavor and healthy eat. Its a simple one pot meal and can be cooked in a busy morning when you are rushing to finish lunch. This is a no tomato and no onion recipe and hence saves time in preparing. I made the recipe using basmathi rice and you can replace it with any rice variety that you fancy.

RK's verdict ~ tasty & different, no one will believe it is Spinach Rice :P

Recipe ~ Own
Cook & Prep time ~ 15 mins

Serves ~ 2-3 people

Ingredients

Spinach - washed, separating leaves and chopping fine

Shredded coconut - fresh/frozen 2 tbsp

Rice - 1 cup ( I used Basmathi)

Water - 2 cups, to boil 

Salt - as per taste

Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

Corriander powder - 1 1/2 tsp

Dry Red chilli - 2-3 

Pepper - 1/4 tsp

Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp

Chana dal - 1/4 tsp

Curry leaves - 4-5 

Oil - 2 tsp (i used coconut oil)

Method 

• Wash the basmathi rice in cold running water and soak it in cold water. Chop the spinach leaves and keep it ready. 
• In a large deep pot/ pressure cooker, heat the oil, add the mustard seeds and once they pop add the chana dal, once they turn brown add the coconut, red chilli and curry leaves, stir until the raw smell goes, now add the spinach leaves. Let it cook with a closed lid, stirring occasionally. You will find the leaves shrinking and almost half the quantity, now add the spices and stir well. 
• Add the required salt, water and the rice to this. Mix well, now taste the water to check for salt and spice level.
• Close the lid and let it cook for 7-8 mins if you are using a deep pot/ 3-4 whistles if using a pressure cooker

Serve hot with banana chips