MENTHE SOPPU BATH (FENUGREEK LEAVES RICE)

MENTHE SOPPU BATH ( FENUGREEK LEAVES RICE)

We make different types of rice in South India. Often these are made using cooked rice, which is readily available at home, which saves time as well. In this blog, for example, you will find recipes for Maavinkayi Chitranna, using Raw Mangoes; Nellikayi Chitranna, using Gooseberries, and Coriander Leaves Rice using Coriander Leaves.

Today's dish 'Menthe Soppu Bath" is made using Fenugreek Leaves which we call Menthe Soppu in Kannada. "Bath" is a word for rice as in the more famous Karnataka dishes like Bisibele Bath and Vangibath.

This recipe is adapted from Savi Ruchi which specializes in Karnataka cuisine.

Here I have used store bought MTR brand Vangibath Powder but you can make your own at home as well. I have also used frozen green peas which save me more time than using fresh green peas and having to cook them,

Ingredients:

• Cooked Rice, 3 cups
• Menthe Soppu ( Fenugreek Leaves), 1 cup, tightly packed
• Frozen Green Peas, 1/3 cup
• Turmeric Powder, a pinch
• Tamarind, marble sized ball
• Jaggery, grated, 1/2 tbsp
• Salt, to taste
• Vangi Bath Powder, 1 tbsp

For the Seasoning:

• Oil, 1 tbsp
• Mustard Seeds, 1/2 tsp
• Cumin Seeds, 1/4 tsp
• Urad Dal, 1 tsp
• Peanuts, 1 tbsp
• Curry Leaves, a sprig
• Asafoetida, a pinch
• Red Chilli, broken, 1

Method:

Remove the fenugreek leaves from their stems and wash them
Finely chop the fenugreek leaves and keep aside
Soak the tamarind in 1/4 cup of warm water and extract the juice. Keep aside
In a kadhai, heat 1 tsp of oil and when it is hot add the finely chopped fenugreek leaves.
Saute on medium heat till they are half-cooked and shrink in size
Add the frozen peas, turmeric powder and the tamarind extract. Mix well.
Add jaggery, salt and vangi bath powder. Mix well.
Continue to cook on medium heat till the mixture thickens
Now add the cooked rice and mix thoroughly so that there are no lumps and the rice is evenly and well coated with the fenugreek leaves mixture
Next, prepare the seasoning with the ingredients mentioned under "Seasoning" in the order in which they are listed
Pour this on to the Fenugreek Leaves Rice and mix well