Kai Saasive Anna (Coconut-Mustard Rice)

Kai Saasive Anna is a traditional Karnataka speciality. This special rice is made on Festival days or for special celebrations. On the lines of Lime Rice(Nimmakaya Pulihara or Chitrannam) and Tamarind Rice (Pulihora or Puliyodharai), this is a very simple, yet tasty rice dish. A blend of Fresh coconut, tamarind and mustard seeds paste lends it a tangy, nutty flavor. I usually serve this rice with fried papad (appalams or pappadums).

Kai Saasive Anna - Coconut Mustard Rice

You will need:
2 cups Rice
1 golf ball sized Tamarind
Salt to taste

For the Paste:
1 cup Fresh grated Coconut
1 tbsp Jaggery
4 green chillies
6 Dry Red chillies
2 tsp Mustard seeds
½ tsp Cumin seeds (jeera)
4 to 5 Methi seeds (adding too many will make it bitter)
½ tsp Asafoetida (Hing)

Ingredients for the Paste

For Seasoning:
4 tbsp Oil
1 tsp Mustard seeds
½ tsp Cumin seeds (jeera)
Curry leaves
1 tbsp Channa Dal
1 tbsp Urad Dal
½ tsp Turmeric powder

Method:
Cook the rice in a Rice cooker and keep aside. I use the ratio 1 cup Rice to 1.5 cups water (if it Basmati Rice) or 1 cup Rice to 2.5 cups Water (if it is Sona Masoori Rice). After the rice is cooked, spread it on a platter or a large mixing bowl and let it cool. To this Rice add Salt.
Soak the Tamarind in 1 cup of water and microwave. Let it cool. Then squeeze the tamarind and extract the pulp. Keep the pulp aside. Throw the remains of the tamarind.
Grind all the ingredients for the paste alongwith the tamarind water and ½ tsp salt. Grind into a smooth paste. It will look like a chutney and should have a thick consistency.
Now let us prepare for seasoning. In a heavy bottom pan, heat the oil. Add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and curry leaves. Once the mustard splutters add the channa dal, urad dal and ½ tsp turmeric powder. Remove this seasoning from the stove and mix it with the rice.
In the same pan, take about 1 tbsp oil. Add the ground paste and mix well. Let the paste mixture simmer on the stove for about 10 minutes on low heat. You will see the oil leave the sides. Remove form the stove and mix with the rice.
Mix the rice well and gently. Taste and add more salt if needed. Garnish with chopped cilantro or coriander leaves.
Optionally you may add cashew pieces to the seasoning as well.
Serve hot with Papad.