The rice dish for today is Sambhar Rice.

As sambhar refers to a mixed vegetable stew like dish, I thought of mimicking the dish in my featured music groups today.

Starting with Thriloka, a fusion band formed in 2005 blending traditional Sri Lankan folk music and progressive rock.

The second clip features Paranoid Earthling, whose music is a blend of experimental and psychedelic rock. The song shared here was first performed by them on the international peace day in 2008.

The last clip features Chitral Somapala and Civilization One, a power metal band, which is not a Sri Lankan band but I decided to feature them by extending the definition to include the Sri Lankan who launched the band.

Enjoy the Sri Lankan rock music scene as you try out the recipe!

Sambhar Rice

Time taken: 45 mins

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• Par-boiled red rice – 1 cup
• Carrots – ½ cup, chopped
• Beans – ½ cup, chopped
• Brinjal – ½ cup, chopped
• Mysore dhal – ¼ cup
• Onion – ½, chopped
• Chilli – 1, chopped
• Curry leaves – 1 sprig
• Tamarind juice – ½ cup
• Curry powder – 1 tsp
• Pepper – ½ tsp
• Garlic cloves – 4 or 5, crushed
• Salt, to taste

Method:

1. Boil the rice and keep aside.
2. Separately, cook the vegetables (carrots, beans and brinjal) and dhal together with the chopped onion, chilli and curry leaves in a cup of water.
3. When the water dries up, add the tamarind juice add the curry powder, pepper powder, crushed garlic cloves and salt to the vegetables.
4. Once the sambhar starts to thicken, add the rice, mix well and let it simmer for 5 to 10 mins.
5. Serve the sambhar rice with pappadum.

Recipe source: Raji Thillainathan.