Betel leaves(Vetrilai or vethalai in vernacular language) are associated with rituals, festivals and functions in India. Till last year, I thought betel leaves are only used for those purpose only. But when My sister’s would-be visited our home, he said about betel leaves dosa what his periamma prepared on that day for breakfast. For the first time, I heard about some recipe using betel leaves. He also said some health benefits of it. I inspired by his words and with extra curious, checked about the recipes using betel leaves over web and surprised to see a few.
I found few recipes from Kaarasaram Reva’s site. She had explained about betel leaves and also its Ayurveda health benefits. Thanks Karasaram Reva for wonderful recipes. I have tried couple of them and yet to try the green gold, the juice which uses betel leaves. First recipe using betel leaves is a rice recipe with garlic. With freshly ground masala, it really tasted unique and gave distinct flavor which I have not tasted before. Off to the recipe now…
Basic Information:
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes + 20 minutes to cook rice
Serves: 2 persons
Ingredients:
For Masala:
Black sesame seeds – 1 teaspoon
Black pepper seeds – 1 teaspoon
Dry ginger / Sukku – 1/2 teaspoon
Dried Red chillies – 3
Dry Turmeric / Turmeric stick / Virali manjal – 1 inch length piece
For Rice:
Seeraga samba Rice / Basmati rice – 1 cup
Water – 2 cups +1 tablespoon
Gingelly oil – 2 tablespoons
Fennel seeds – 1/2 teaspoon
Cinnamon sticks – 1 inch length piece
Curry leaves – 1 string
Betel leaves – 4 nos, finely chopped and stalk removed
Garlic cloves – 6 big cloves
Salt – to taste
Method:
For Masala:
1) Dry roast all the ingredients given under “For Masala”. Allow it to cool to room temperature.
2) Make a powder of it once it is cooled down. Keep it aside.
For Rice:
1) Wash the rice well 2 or 3 times using water. Soak it for 30 minutes.
2) Drain the water and cook it with 2 cups of water. Once done, fluff it using fork and transfer to a wide plate and allow it to cool.
3) Heat oil in a pan. Add fennel seeds and cinnamon stick when it is hot. Let it slightly brown in colour.
4) Add curry leaves followed by garlic. Cook the garlic till it becomes soft.
5) Add cooked and cooled rice and reduce the flame to low. Add chopped betel leaves.
6) Add ground masala that we prepared already. Add salt.
7) Gently mix and sprinkle one tablespoon of water. Cover it using a lid and cook it for 5 minutes. Make sure not to burn it.
8) Open the lid and mix well. Turn the flame off.
Notes:
1) I used 1/4 cup of Oru poondu (Pearl Garlic). You can also use more garlic. I prepared once using 1/2 cup of garlic.
2) Increase or decrease dried red chillies as per personal preference.
3) Use only Gingely oil and freshly ground masala for perfect taste.
4) Use only mid range betel leaves. It should not be too young and too matured
absolute stunning recipe and clicks.
Wow, its totally drooling Uma… love the all clicks…
very interesting..i am sure going to try it…
very interesting and looks delicious..
interesting never tried before
So unique and tempting recipe !!
The most innovative and useful recipe I have ever read From Reva's Post… And Uma u made it too good with beautiful presentation….Soon would lov to give an attempt…
Delicious and mouthwatering recipe.
Deepa
Never heard of any recipe using betel leaves, rice looks yummy. Todays post : nayanas-kitchen-kreations.blogspot.in/2013/05/pudinewala-mutton.html
Woww.. Sounds absolutely interesting… Love the presentation too.. Yummy !!
Very unique… Never tried this…
Its new to me. I'm going to try this. Thanks for sharing this unique recipe Uma.
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thats a v unique recipe.. lovely clicks and thx for sharing.. 🙂
Interesting and delicious rice dear
wow! drooling recipe…looks superb and tempting clicks uma…
Nice Efforts done. Useful Blog
Thanks & Regards
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wanted to try this recipe from reva's space.. will try it soon.. well made uma..
Tempting rice preparation.Thanks for introducing me to this unique rice.
wow! drooling recipe…looks superb and tempting clicks dear…
Wow!!that sounds healthy and delicious…stunning clicks.
Something new to me…should try it for all the health benefits of beetal leaves
This sounds so flavourful…love the addition of beetel !