Carrot Rice

I like any kind of variety rice for their ease of preparing and the taste. Carrot rice is one among them. My kid loves this too. He can eat this even daily. I make variations by adding peanuts or channa or sweet corn or even bell peppers. The crunchiness of the carrot along with the crisp nuts or soft beans makes you love this dish. Isn't this a healthy colorful rice that can attract anyone? Now to the simplest recipe ever!

Ingredients:   

Rice - 1 cup
Carrots - 3 or 4, skin peeled and shredded
Onion - 1
Green chilli - 1, slit lengthwise
Cooked peas/channa/corn/roasted peanuts - a handful (Optional)
Hing, turmeric powder, salt as per taste

To Temper

Oil, Mustard Seeds, Cumin Seeds, Channa Dal, Urad Dal, Curry Leaves as needed

Method

1. Cook the rice, fluff it with fork and set aside. Make sure it is not sticky.
2. Heat oil in a pan and do the tempering with the tempering ingredients in the specified order. Add the green chilli and the onions one after the other. Once the onions turn translucent add the carrots and give a quick stir. Carrots need not be fully cooked. Add the cooked peas/channa/corn/roasted peanuts, hing, turmeric powder and salt. Turn off the flame and add the cooked rice and mix well.
3. Add some chopped corriander leaves for garnish and flavor.

** you can also use the Rice Mix Powder along with this for a nice aroma and taste .

Nutritional Information

Health experts call carrots "The Crunchy Powerfood" as these root vegetables come with wholesome health benefiting compounds such as beta-carotenes, vitamin A, and anti-oxidants in ample amounts. They also compose healthy levels of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium, manganese and phosphorus. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure by countering effects of sodium. In general, carrots are beneficiary for vision health, preventing  lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer, anti-aging, preventing heart disease, stroke etc. And did I mention that carrots also grow in attractive white, yellow, red and purple color!