Curd Rice Food

HOW TO MAKE CURD | DAHI RECIPE

Steps:

• Rinse a pot well. This reduces the chances of milk solids getting stuck to the bottom.
• Pour milk and bring it to boil on a medium to low flame.
• To get thick curd, once it comes to a boil simmer the milk for 15 mins on a very low flame.
• Keep stirring in between else the milk will get burnt and smell bad.
• Simmering step is to get a very thick curd. You can skip this if you are ok to have a moderately thick yogurt.
• Allow the milk to cool down.
• If you are intending to use a curd culture that has come down to room temperature, then allow the boiled milk to come down to luke warm temp.
• But if you are using the culture directly from the fridge, then the temperature of the milk must be mildly warmer than the luke warm.
• Immerse your clean finger in the milk and check.
• Add a tsp of curd to the warm milk and stir well. You will have to experiment with the amount of starter to use.
• In India, my mother uses less than half tsp for 1 liter milk as it is not homogenized milk. But in Singapore I use about 1 tbsp or even more for 1 liter. It depends on the milk, climate and starter.
• Cover & move the bowl to a warm place.
• Allow it to set for 6 to 10 hrs depending on the climate.
• If you wish to set the curd well, you can break a red chili and drop it in the milk. it is optional and does not make the dahi or curd spicy or hot.
• If you live in a cold place, then keep it in a casserole or thermocol box or oven with the light on.
• Next if you intend to make curd in small bowls, check the step by step instructions after the recipe card.
• When the curd is set, move it to refrigerator.
• Ensure your sealing ring and instant pot are clean and are free from any kind of strong flavors from the previous cooking. Pour 1 cup water to the steel insert of your instant pot.
• Pour 4 cups of milk to a stainless steel bowl. Place a trivet and then place the bowl of milk over it. Do not cover the bowl.
• Secure the instant pot with the lid and position the steam release value to sealing. Press pressure cook button and set the timer to "zero".
• The Instant pot beeps when it is done. Let the pressure release naturally. Carefully remove the bowl and let the milk cool down to warm temperature.
• When the milk is warm, place your clean finger to ensure it is not too hot. It must be warm. Stir in half teaspoon yogurt and place the bowl back on the trivet in the instant pot. The pot should not be too hot.
• If you live in a cold region or during winters, you may turn on instant pot & press the yogurt button. But during other times, you don't need to turn on the instant pot at all. I usually place the bowl in the instant pot without turning it on. The residual heat from the previous cooking will be enough to set the curd.
• It will take 6 to 8 hours for the curd to set well. Remove the bowl and place it in refrigerator.

CURD RICE

Steps:

• Cook rice and keep aside.
• Beat curd and milk together.
• Add salt and sugar and keep aside.
• Now heat oil in a pan.
• Add mustard seeds, cumin seeds and chana dal and wait till the dal turns light brown.
• Now add chilli, hing, cashews and curry leaves and allow these to sizzle.
• Add to the curd.
• Add in the cooked rice.
• Mix well.
• Garnish with corriander leaves and serve with my favourite, Sindhi papad!

CURD RICE

Steps:

• Set the Instant Pot to saute mode and heat oil. Add mustard seeds and allow them to pop, this may take 2 to 3 minutes. Add hing and urad daal. Cook for another minute as the daal turns golden brown. Turn the saute mode off and add green chilies, curry leaves and ginger. Stir for a minute and then take the tempering out in a bowl and reserve.
• Rinse and drain the rice. Add rice and water to the Instant Pot insert. Close the lid with pressure release valve to sealing. Press the rice button and allow 10 minutes natural pressure release.
• Open the Instant Pot and take the rice out in a serving bowl and allow the rice to cool down.
• Once the rice is luke warm, mash it with the back of a spatula and then stir in yogurt, water and salt. Mix well. Stir in the reserved tempering and mix well. Enjoy warm with your choice of topping.