Healthy Vegetable Tahiri

Here’s a spotlight for you – Vegetable Tahiri!

This is a fragrant and hearty one-pot dish hailing from Northern India, bursting with the richness of assorted veggies, aromatic spices, and basmati rice.

Tahiri is usually cooked in a pressure cooker but I find it easier to cook on the stove in a pot.

Imagine a plate of hot, steaming Tahiri with a side of cooling raita or tangy pickle — an utterly satisfying meal that fills you up, not out. Enjoy this humble yet delicious example of the magic that is Indian cuisine.

What is Vegetable Tahiri Exactly?

Vegetable Tahiri is a one-pot vegetarian dish (gluten-free, vegan), from the Northern regions of India.

The term “Tahiri” has its origins in the Awadhi language and is derived from the word “Tahir,” which means “pure” or “chaste.” The name reflects the simple and authentic nature of this delectable dish.

Awadhi connects to Ayodhya, an ancient Indian city, which is seen as the homeland of the glorious king Ram. The language that they spoke, Awadhi, was once a widespread literary language and has been used in significant Indian texts. If you’re interested, Awadh region is the present-day Uttar Pradesh (also called UP) in India. So Vegetable Tahiri has royal and ancient roots and recipes have been passed down from generation to generation!

I learned this recipe from my cousin who lives in that region and is an avid cook!

In Vegetable Tahiri, the distinct flavors of vegetables and aromatic spices meld beautifully with the basmati rice, creating an unpretentious, yet wholesome meal. The “pure” essence of the dish lies in its unadulterated flavors and the quality of its ingredients, making it a beloved comfort food in Indian cuisine.

Ingredients That Make this Star Dish

Rice – Use long-grained rice. Basmati rice is a common choice for this dish.

Vegetables – The choice of vegetables in vegetable tahiri can be varied I have used potatoes, tomatoes, cauliflower, carrots, green beans, green peas, and Green chilies. You can add broccoli or any other vegetable of your choice.

Spices – Cumin seeds, turmeric powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, and garam masala are the spices you require for this dish.

Ginger – Ginger is the star of this dish.

Fresh cilantro– Add finely chopped fresh cilantro, aka coriander leaves for enhanced taste.

Neutral Cooking oil – Avocado oil, peanut oil. canola oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, they all work.

A Simplified Guide to Making Vegetable Tahiri

To start with, let’s prepare our cooking pan. Make sure it has a lid. Pour 2-3 tablespoons of either oil or ghee and warm it up until it’s ready for our ingredients. We begin with a teaspoon of cumin seeds, allowing them to darken and pop open in the heated oil, releasing their aromatic flavors.

Next, introduce the vegetables: in our culinary dance, introduce a finely chopped potato to the mix, allowing it to fry while stirring for around 2 to 3 minutes. Just as our potato starts to turn a beautiful shade of golden brown, it’s time to welcome our cauliflower to the party, giving it a quick 1-minute fry. Immediately after, sprinkle in the carrots, green peas, and green beans, and sauté them just long enough to begin releasing their vibrant colors and lively flavors.

Now it’s time to spice things up! Toss in green chilies, ginger, turmeric and coriander powders, a tomato, and red chili powder. As we stir in these ingredients, the aromatic symphony takes center stage.

Next, invite the rice! Once the vegetables have been lightly roasted, add in the rice and give the concoction a good mix until every grain of rice is coated with the flavors. Then, introduce some warm water to the mixture to bind it all together.

As we near the end of our cooking journey, sprinkle in some salt and garam masala for that extra kick of flavor. Securely cover the pot with a lid and let your masterpiece simmer on a low heat for about 10 minutes, allowing all the flavors to meld together beautifully.

To finish off our glorious vegetable tahiri, shower it with some freshly chopped coriander leaves, adding a touch of color and a burst of fresh flavor. Serve your delightful tahiri hot, complemented with raita, a refreshing salad, and green chutney for a truly memorable meal!

Some other rice dishes to try: Peas Pulao, Peas and Carrots Pulao, and Tomato Rice.

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