Ready in just a matter of minutes but tasted awesomely delicious and the aroma from the basil made the house smell so divine…
Basil plucked from my garden and that’s what made this fried rice so special. The first time I tasted basil that was 6 years ago and I disliked it without a second thought. I didn’t even look at it nor tried to befriend it for a few years. Then, I read somewhere that Tulsi and basil are of the same family. Tulsi is a very common plant in India, almost all the houses in my hometown have tulsi in their garden. Tulsi is considered as a sacred plant by Hindus which represents purity. The health benefits of tulsi is just outstanding. How many times have I had tulsi herbal coffee (chukku kappi) while in Kerala??? Countless times…It’s an instant relief for headaches, cold, fever and also heals wounds and cuts. It’s said that eating one tulsi leaf everyday would help to ward off most of the diseases. Tulsi is also one of the ingredients in most herbal soaps and creams. One of my favorite soaps was tulsi, after a shower using that soap I always used to feel refreshed and rejuvenated. So, after knowing that tulsi and basil are cousins, I started getting connected with basil…I know it sounds weird.
Slowly, I tried to befriend basil. I first tried some basil dishes at restaurants. I think the first dish I had tried was basil chicken at a Thai restaurant and fell head over heels for it. After that I couldn’t resist buying it and had added it while making herbal coffee. During winter and on lousy sick days I sip the basil herbal coffee and felt so relieved after that. Now, basil has become an unavoidable ingredient for me. I add dried basil leaves to most of my dishes. I grow basil in my veggie garden, it’s one of the easiest herb to grow. Keep pruning it and it gets bushy. Today, I plucked some basil leaves and so wanted to make something with it. I made this basil fried rice. The aroma from the basil while cooking made the house smell phenomenal and the fried rice tasted so delicious. It was aromatic and absolutely yummy. This is easy to make and tastes incredible…
Basil Fried Brown Rice
Ingredients
To cook rice
- Brown rice or basmati rice- 1 1/2 cups
- Water- 3 cups
- Salt- 1/2 tsp
For making fried rice
- Mixed veggies: carrots, beans, corn, peas- 1 1/2 cups (chop carrots and beans very small)
- Butter- 2 tbsp
- Basil, chopped- 10 leaves
- Soy sauce, low sodium- 4 to 5 tbsp
- Sambal Oelek- 1 tsp or add chili paste
- Ground black pepper- 1/4 tsp
Instruction
- Rinse the rice taken in a strainer under running water.
- Cook the rice in a rice cooker or in a saucepan over the stovetop.
- Add the rice, salt, and water to the rice cooker pot. Cook till the rice has turned soft & cooked well.
- Heat a wok or non-stick pan over medium heat, add butter and let it melt
- Add mixed veggies and saute till they turn light golden in color.
- Add basil and stir fry till aromatic for a couple of minutes.
- Add soy sauce and sambal oelek, stir fry for 2 minutes.
- Add the cooked brown rice and combine well.
- Add ground pepper according to your needs and stir fry the rice for a couple of minutes.
- Garnish with basil leaves and serve warm along with your favorite curry.
- This is a very refreshing & aromatic fried rice.
Tips:
- Use low sodium soy sauce.
- After adding soy sauce, taste the fried rice and add more salt if needed.
- Brown rice or basmati rice- 1½ cups
- Water- 3 cups
- Salt- ½ tsp
- Mixed veggies: carrots, beans, corn, peas- 1½ cups (chop carrots and beans very small)
- Butter- 2 tbsp
- Basil, chopped- 10 leaves
- Soy sauce, low sodium- 4 to 5 tbsp
- Sambal Oelek- 1 tsp or chilin paste
- Ground black pepper- ¼ tsp
- Rinse the rice taken in a strainer under running water.
- Cook the rice in a rice cooker or in a saucepan over the stovetop.
- Add the rice, salt, and water to the rice cooker pot. Cook till the rice has turned soft & cooked well.
- Heat a wok or non-stick pan over medium heat, add butter and let it melt
- Add mixed veggies and saute till they turn light golden in color.
- Add basil and stir fry till aromatic for a couple of minutes.
- Add soy sauce and sambal oelek, stir fry for 2 minutes.
- Add the cooked brown rice and combine well.
- Add ground pepper according to your needs and stir fry the rice for a couple of minutes.
- Garnish with basil leaves and serve warm along with your favorite curry.
- This is a very refreshing & aromatic fried rice.
•After adding soy sauce, taste the fried rice and add more salt if needed.
