Celebrating Fall with Apple Rice!

One of the unexpected advantages of moving to the new place has been an apple tree in front of the house. For the first few days we were debating if it was edible. But it wasn't too long before we bit into one of them. These green apples are tart and sour with hints of sweetness. But never sweet enough to eat it plain. Almost each branch of the tree has been laden with fruit and we began thinking of ways to use these apples.

It was then my mother in law decided to make apple rice. We weren't sure how it would turn out. Will it be mushy? or will it make the rice too sour? With all these questions, we decided to give it a try. In fact, the apple rice was delicious and flavorful. With the sweet and sour notes of apple mixed with crunchy cumin seeds, curry leaves and green chiles and basmati rice, it made a delicious lunch with raw banana cutlets.

Ingredients:
1 green apple- grated
1 cup basmati rice
1 small onion - chopped
1 small tomato - chopped
1 tspoon lemon juice
1" ginger - grated
2 green chiles - grated
1/2 tspoon cumin seeds
1/2 tspoon mustard seeds
1/2 tspoon urad dhal
4-5 curry leaves
1/4 tspoon turmeric powder
1/4 tspoon coriander powder
1/4 tspoon cumin seeds powder
1/4 tspoon red chile powder
2 cups water
salt to taste
1 tbspoon oil

Method:
Soak the rice and keep it aside. Soak the grated apples in lemon juice Microwave the apples for 3-4 minutes till it is semi cooked.

Then heat oil in saucepan and temper it with cumin seeds, mustard seeds, urad dal, green chiles, grated ginger and curry leaves. Then add the onions and saute it for a couple of minutes. Next, add the tomatoes and cook it on medium heat till it turns soft.

Add grated apples now and saute it for a couple of minutes. Then add the turmeric powder, cumin seeds powder, coriander powder, red chile powder and salt mixing it well with the apples. Then add the rice and mix it for another couple of minutes.

Add the 2 cup water (water is double the rice) and let it all cook together closed lid on medium heat for 15-20 minutes till the rice is completely cooked and the water has evaporated completely.

Serve it warm with raita, chips or raw banana cutlets :)

This homemade apple recipe is an entry for Grow Your Own hosted this month by Chez Us. This is going to Scott at Real Epicurean who is hosting ITB September: Fruits and Nuts.
(Thanks Bee, saw the ITB September announcement on your blog.)