Main ingredient: the dish’s main ingredient, rice’ nutrients and health enhancing benefits include but are not limited to being a good source of fibre, protein, iron, B vitamins, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, manganese and magnesium. Research suggests that it is weight loss friendly if eaten in modest quantity as part of a healthy balanced diet, but fattening if eaten in excess and in conjunction with an unhealthy diet.
Dal is, unlike with boiled rice, not used with fried rice. Chicken or other meats (diced) and already precooked, can be added to make meat versions of this Nepali vegetarian dish
Taste description & background:
Nepali fried rice makes a tasty meal in which you enjoy its spices and seasonings in a perfectly blended way keeping their flavours but in combination making an exceptional dish to savour. Its taste is not lost, unlike some other fried rice dishes, because the oil used is minimal. Bhat Bhuteko (there are many versions such as including Ramja, Red Kidney Bean, illustrated in the image above) was another one of the dishes I learned from my father when I was a child: I saw him make this one day when we still had some remaining umaaleko bhat (boiled rice) and a quick meal was sought at the end of that day.
Quantity: Serves 2 people two times, or four people for one occasion.
Time taken on creating dish: to prepare and cook takes about 25 minutes.
Utensils needed:
Frying pan, and a stirring spoon (wooden) / spatula
Ingredients:
- Boiled rice (umaaleko bhat) – 2 to 4 portions
- Oil for frying- 1 table spoon
- Freshly chopped garlic – half a clove
- Fresh finely chopped chili
- Finely chopped ginger (optional) – to taste
- Salt- a pinch to taste
- Chili powder- about ½ a teaspoon
- Cumin (jeera) seed (optional)- 1 teaspoon
- Turmeric (optional) – a pinch
Method:
Heat frying pan, then add the oil. After this add, heat and gently toss garlic, chili, ginger (and jeera if used) and then add the boiled rice, and the salt and spices. Stir thoroughly, then cook for 2 – 3 minutes. Pre-prepared/cooked meat can be added (advised time 4-5 minutes)
Accompaniments:
Achar/spiced pickle, you can also add vegetable curry/tarkari as a side dish or for mixing into the rice when the dish is served