Tag: lemon rice
Shrimp with a Cilantro and Mint Sauce
This is a yummy green curry made with coconut milk, cilantro and mint! It was a delicious combination I served with lemon rice and it was a bit hit. Overall- it was a successful attempt at a green coconut curry… I was very satisfied.
- 1 pound medium sized shrimp, cleaned
- 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
Green Curry
- 1 cup cilantro, chopped
- ½ cup mint, chopped
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1 medium white onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 inch ginger
- 1 serrano chili, chopped
- ¼ cup water
Blend the cilantro, mint, green onions, white onion, garlic, ginger, chili and water till a smooth sauce.
- 3 teaspoons coriander seeds, toasted and ground
- 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
- 10 to 15 curry leaves, chopped
- 1 (14 ounces) light coconut milk
- Salt
- Juice of one lemon
Saute the shrimp on high heat for 2 to 3 minutes in a wok like sauce pan with the extra light olive oil. Take the shrimp out on a paper towel lined platter. Keep aside.
Reheat the wok like sauce pan and add the mustard seeds and curry leaves. Saute for a minute on high heat or till the seeds start to sizzle. Add the sauce and sauté on medium high heat for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the coriander seeds, salt and coconut milk. Mix well and cook for 5 to 6 minutes on medium heat. Add the shrimp, cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the lemon juice, taste for seasonings. Serve with plain or lemon rice.
Lemon Coconut Rice
This rice dish is found in most South Indian restaurants. I grew up in North India and although we ate South Indian food once in a while, I really didn’t get exposed to most of the cuisine until I came to the US- actually probably more after I married my husband- he grew up in the South. We usually go out for South Indian food now but I have started making some of the dishes at home. I love cooking with mustard seeds and curry leaves- they give any dish a very earthy aromatic flavor. I make this lemon rice dish as well as a lot of meat and seafood curries that are very popular in the South . I have stopped ordering lemon rice in restaurants now because I feel I have come up with the perfect recipe for this dish and don’t like how they make it in restaurants any more. It took me a while and a lot of tries to come up with the perfect concoction. I love the combination of the crunchy mustard seeds, peanuts and the two dals that are sauteed with the rest of the mixture. Citrus flavor from the fresh lemon juice is balanced really well with the creamy rice. Usually fresh coconut is grated on top as a garnish- I decided to cook the rice in coconut milk instead- as, fresh coconut is hard to get and the coconut milk flavor permeates throughout the dish making it utterly delicious. This dish can be eaten by itself or with a curry. I usually make toor dal , a fish curry or a chicken curry– whatever you eat it with, I can guarantee you will love it!
- 1 cup basmati rice (jasmine rice can be substituted)
- 1 cup light coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
- 2 teaspoons split urad dal
- 2 teaspoons channa dal
- 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
- 10-12 curry leaves
- 2-3 dried red chilies
- A pinch of asafetida
- ½ cup peanuts, roasted
- 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Salt to taste
Cook the rice with a mixture of coconut milk, water and turmeric. Cool the rice off once cooked and keep aside.
In a large wok like pan, heat the oil. Add the urad and channa dal and sauté for about 30 seconds on medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and curry leaves and saute for another minute. Next, add the red chilies and asafetida. Add the cooked and cooled rice. Mix well. Add the peanuts, lemon juice and salt. Mix well and serve.