EGG FRIED RICE WITH SWEET N SOUR PANEER

Plain Rice I am fond of as much as the bread varieties! My two men dislike plain rice unless served with their choice of sides, but they enjoy fried rice. Since I am not allowed to eat much of it, I feel like they should have it. Yes, it is a state of mind...I have to see those white grains of prosperity on the table at least once in a day. If I pack it for lunch, I spare them from eating it at night. Yes, Rice is a sign of prosperity among us, we consider it as goddess Lakshmi.

In such a love-hate scenario, I prefer frying the rice with whatever available spices and colourful vegetables or meat n eggs at home. This the only way I can feed some rice to them. If with it we can serve an Oriental inspired side, nothing as comforting as this....a complete meal...health and taste loaded.... Today I prepared this EGG FRIED RICE WITH SWEET N SOUR PANEER to pack their lunch boxes.

I am a much happier person at the end of the day when I see their lunch boxes....not a single grain of rice can be seen. I hate wastage of food. In the country of my birth where millions still starve, I cannot afford to. I can relate a childhood real life story in this context.

When I was at school, a vendor selling puffed rice, jaggery used to come at our neighbourhood from a remote village. He used to catch the first train early morning, come and sell his things and went back in the afternoon. Many in the neighbourhood used to feed him...we had a very nice neighbourhood culture  back then. I remember my mother used to feed him lunch...the way he sat, ate....each grain with so much of love n care...I even remember the burp sound after the meal...that of satisfaction...inside my room...I used to be in tears.... so I cannot afford or allow to waste food at my home.

I hope you too have this feeling when you see a hunger stricken poor eating....God, I remember many things from the past....small n big... trivial n serious... of love & adulation, pain, abuse, rejection, dejection...everything....various scenarios...different actors... Life's truly a stage....each one playing their own roles....and I grow n grow even more with experience.....

INGREDIENTS :[for the egg fried rice]

Rice : 1coffee cup
Egg : 4
Onion : 1 big
Cubed Red, Green, Yellow Bell pepper : 1 small tea cup
Minced Garlic : 1tsp

Minced Ginger : 1/2 tsp
Black Pepper Powder : 1/2 tsp
Soya Sauce[light] : 1tbsp [you can use gluten-free]
Salt : As required
Oil : 1 tbsp

INGREDIENTS :[for the sweet n sour paneer]

Indian Cottage Cheese : 250 gm
Onion : 1big
Red n Green Bell Pepper : 1each small
Green Chilli : 3-4
Minced Ginger : 1tsp
Minced Garlic : 1tsp
Cornflour : 2tbsp
Black Pepper Powder : 1tsp
Salt : As required

Soy Sauce : 2 tsp [you can use gluten-free]
Sweet n Sour Sauce : 2 tbsp
Oil : 6 tbsp


METHOD :

Let us do the Egg Fried Rice at first!

Wash the rice and boil in enough water till 70% done. Drain the water and pour over a tray, spread evenly.

Wash and cut into small cubes the onion and the bell peppers. Get the minced garlic & ginger ready. 

Heat 1tsp oil in a pan. Scramble the eggs and keep aside. Wash the pan, dry and heat the remaining oil meant for the rice.

Add the minced garlic and ginger, fry till it is light brown. Add the onion pieces and fry till translucent. Add the cubed vegetables and saute for 2 minutes at high heat. Pour in the soya sauce and stir for a minute.

Add the rice and stir cook at high heat. Season with salt n pepper. Stir well, add the scrambled egg. Stir again. Switch off gas, its done.

Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with chopped spring onions [I forgot to]

Now the preparation of the Sweet n Sour Paneer!

Cut the cottage cheese pieces into cubes. Sprinkle the all purpose flour, little salt and cornflour and coat well.

Wash and cut the onions and bell peppers into cubes separately. Slit the green chillies and keep the minced ginger and garlic ready.

Heat the oil in a wok. Fry the paneer pieces till light brown in batches. Keep aside.

Keep 2 tbsp oil in the wok and the rest keep aside for future use. Add the minced ginger and garlic in wok and fry till it gives aroma. Add the onions and saute till translucent.

Now add the bell peppers and saute for about 2 minutes at high heat. Pour the light soy sauce & sweet n sour sauce, season with salt n pepper.

Add the paneer pieces and the slitted green chillies. Fold in well and switch off.

Both dishes are to be served hot and fresh!