Recipe- Quick Evening Snack Phodnicha Bhat

Phodnicha Bhat means tempered rice which is made using leftover plain rice that is tossed in spices along with onions. This rice is usually had for breakfast or as a quick evening snack.

Phodni refers to 'the tempering' and Bhat means 'Rice'.Phodnicha bhat is known by several names such as vagharelo bhat, tadka rice, masala rice or just as a leftover rice preparation.

Phodnicha bhat is a simple and easy Maharashtrian dish which can be had in breakfast, as a snack or as one-pot meal for lunch & dinner.This recipe is perfect to make for beginners & bachelor’s. It hardly requires any ingredients and the main one being plain leftover rice.

You can make this with freshly steamed rice as well but in that case, make sure that the rice is fully cooled down to room temperature.

Ingredients

1 cup leftover cooked rice
1 Onion – finely chopped
1 tsp Mustard Seeds
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
1/4th tsp Hing (Asafoetida)
1 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 tsp/tbsp Red Chilli Powder – as per the spiciness required
1 tsp Sugar
Salt to taste
Coriander Leaves finely chopped for garnishing (Optional)
2 – 3 tbsp Oil

Method

- Heat oil in a pan. Add mustard seeds and let them crackle. Now add cumin seeds and let them sizzle for one minute.

- Add hing and turmeric powder.

- Add finely chopped onion and cook till the onions are translucent. Keep the flame low to medium.

- Once the onions are cooked add the leftover rice. At this point keep the flame low.

- Now add red chilli powder, salt and sugar and mix well till masala is nicely incorporated into the rice. Check seasoning at this time.

- Cover the pan with lid and let the rice get a nice steam for about 5-7 minutes on low flame.

- Stir occasionally to avoid the rice sticking to the bottom of the pan.

- Phodnicha Bhat / Tempered Rice is ready.

- If you want you can add finely chopped coriander leaves and serve with pickle or raita of your choice.

- Serve hot.