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Nuvvula saddi
Rice with roasted sesame powder
నువ్వుల సద్ది: rice tossed with roasted sesame powder, ghee and a crunchy tempering for Bathukamma
Each family takes several saddulu, flavoured rice dishes, to the lake on Saddula Bathukamma, the last evening of Telangana's flower festival, and swaps them with neighbours after the songs; sesame rice, lemon rice, peanut rice and coconut rice are the usual set. Nuvvula saddi is the nuttiest of them: freshly roasted sesame ground with dried red chilli, tossed through cooked rice with a tempering of mustard seeds, dals, peanuts and curry leaves. It is eaten at room temperature, so the grains must stay separate. Common mistake: grinding the sesame for too long, which turns it to oily paste; pulse only until it looks like coarse sand. The sesame is roasted enough when it crackles, turns light gold and one seed crushes easily between your fingers. Chef's tip: cook the rice a little firm and spread it on a plate to cool before mixing, so it does not break up.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the sesame powder
- 4 tbsp white sesame seeds
For the rice
- 1 ⅛ lb cooked ricecooked firm and cooled, from about 200 g raw
- 2 tbsp ghee
- 1 tsp mustard seeds
- 1 tsp urad dal
- 1 tsp chana dal
- 2 tbsp raw peanuts
- 1 sprig curry leaves
- 1 tsp salt
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Dry-roast 4 tbsp white sesame seeds in a pan over a medium-low heat for 3–4 minutes until it crackles and turns light gold. Roast 3 dried red chillies for 1 minute alongside. Cool.
5 minStep 2: Pulse the sesame and chillies with 1 tsp salt in short bursts to a coarse powder.
1 minStep 3: Heat 2 tbsp ghee in a wide pan over a medium heat. Add 1 tsp mustard seeds and, when it splutters, 1 tsp urad dal, 1 tsp chana dal and 2 tbsp raw peanuts. Fry for 2–3 minutes until the dals are golden and the peanuts crisp, then add 1 sprig curry leaves.
4 minStep 4: Add 1 ⅛ lb cooked rice and the sesame powder and toss gently over a low heat for 2–3 minutes with a flat spoon until every grain is coated. Taste for salt and serve warm or at room temperature.
3 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 330 kcal
- Protein
- 7 g
- Carbs
- 44 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does nuvvula saddi take?
- About 25 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of white sesame seeds?
- Poppy seeds or finely chopped pumpkin seeds, same amount.
- What can I use instead of cooked rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
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