It’s Valentine’s Day in few days. Thought of making something with red as the colour theme. But I didn’t want to make any sweet.

I had bought a box of fresh strawberries. In Chennai, strawberries that we get are not at all sweet. It’s very tangy, making it ideal to use in many recipes.
I have made strawberry rasam before. But wanted to try something new- red, hot and spicy, perfect for the occasion.

Ingredients

Basmati rice- 2 cups
Strawberry – 1 cup
Tomato- 1 (medium size)
Peeled Shallots- 1/2 cup
Garlic – 10
Boiled fresh corn- 1 cup
Kashmiri red chilli powder- 2 tsps
Jeera powder- 2 tsps
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Butter- 1 tbsp

To grind to a paste
Fresh red chilli – 1
Cloves- 4
Peeled shallots- 10
Cardamom- 2-3
Cinnamon- 1/2 inch
Strawberry- 2

Method

Wash and soak basmati rice.
Slice the shallots.
Crush and slice garlic.
Grind the strawberries and tomato to a coarse paste.
Grind cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, fresh red chilli, strawberries(2), garlic and shallots to a coarse paste.

Heat butter in a heavy bottom pan.
Add the sliced shallots and garlic. When garlic turns slightly golden, add the ground paste and sauté for a min.

Now, drain and add the basmati rice and sauté again for min.

Add the coarsely ground strawberries and tomato purée, jeera, turmeric, chilli powder and salt to taste. Mix well and cook for min.

Now add 3 cups of water and boiled fresh corn and mix well. Close the pan with a lid, reduce the flame and cook till rice becomes soft and dry.
Stir once in between.
After switching off the gas, fluff the rice once and keep the pan closed for 10 mins.

After 10 mins, transfer to a serving dish and serve hot with raitha of your choice:)