A very simple and quick recipe to pack for lunch box is this peanut rice. By using just 3 main ingredients, you can make this amazingly aromatic and flavorful rice. We know that peanuts are healthy, high on protein and raise your good cholesterol(HDL) levels when taken in moderation. Both me and KS love peanuts, I prepare peanut chutney very often at home for our breakfast. I always keep a stock of this peanut powder in my refrigerator and whenever I need a quick lunch, I just mix this in cooked rice and eat it with plain appadams or papads.
I make a very simple and basic version of peanut rice and hence I add just 3 ingredients in the powder. But, many people also add grated coconut or sesame seeds. I prefer just the peanut flavor and hence I personally keep this recipe very simple. This powder also can be had with idly or dosa. I normally mix little water and some tamarind extract to this powder and blend it to get my chutney. Add tadka or seasoning and you have a ready made chutney within minutes.
To pack a quick recipe for lunch box is always problematic and confusing. Other options I have along with this peanut rice is curry leaves rice, tomato rice, tamarind rice, curd rice. All these recipes need no curry on the side and can be eaten with simple appadams. But, these rice recipes taste good with any simple gravy like onion tomato curry, kootu or even dal.
First, cook the rice by adding enough salt and a tsp of oil. Let the rice cool completely.
Heat a pan and dry roast the curry leaves and dry red chili. Set them aside.
In the same pan, dry roast the peanuts till they turn golden brown and set aside to cool completely.
First coarsely blend the curry leaves and red chili.
Then add the roasted peanuts and blend to a slightly coarse texture.
The peanut powder is ready to be used in rice.
Mix this powder, along with required salt to the cooked rice. Optionally, you can add some ghee in the rice and it tastes great with papads. You can make a simple tadka or seasoning and mix it in the rice too!
This is a basic version of peanut rice. You can add some sesame seeds or coconut too when roasting the chili.
You can adjust the chili as per the spiciness you prefer.
This can be used for upto a week when stored in an airtight container.