Rice in Tomato sauce with Peanut

I saw that one cup of peanut is getting rotten as i was not using it for any preparation for long.So wanted to use it in rice as i was running short of time for preparing my lunch box for office.And in home there was nothing left except some tomatoes in fridge and i was having no time to go to anna's shop to buy any thing else so started preparing something, keeping this Peanut and tomato as my main ingredient with rice.Finally it came out really nice.There was some leftover which i had next day too.

Rice in Tomato sauce with Peanut

Ingredients:

• 1.5 cups uncooked rice, basmati or long grained

• 1/2 cup roasted and peeled roasted peanuts

• 3 tablespoons ghee

• 5 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1/4 cup chopped onions

• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

• 1/3 – 1/2 cup thick tomato paste + 1.5 cups water

• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro/coriander chopped

• 2.5 tablespoons lightly roasted cumin powder,or as per taste

• salt

• 5-6 fresh hot chili pepper, like Thai-Bird, thinly sliced

• Generous amount of fresh lemon juice/as per taste

Method:

• Cook the rice as per instruction; make sure they do not go mushy. The grains need to stay a little firm,long and separate.

• Heat ghee in thick bottomed pan; add the red pepper flakes, garlic and onions and fry till the onions soften, for about 5-7 minutes.

• Combine the tomato paste,fry for 2 mins and add water. Add salt and simmer for about 12-15 minutes at medium heat, uncovered. The entire soupy thing should be reduced to a thick consistency. Switch off the heat.

• Add the peanuts and the cooked rice. Combine everything together well, till you see no white rice. Switch on the heat and stir it around for about 5 minutes at low heat. Add the fresh cilantro/coriander, fresh chili pepper and the roasted cumin powder. Stir everything together carefully so as not to break the rice grains. Cover till ready to serve.

• Sprinkle the lemon juice and toss the rice just before you serve. Garnish with fresh cilantro and more chili pepper if you want.

N.B:Soak the peanuts at least 1-2 hour in water before using it.