Nuvvula Annam

Nuvvula Annam

Nuvvula Annam

Veg Vegan

Sesame rice — cooked, cooled rice tossed with a freshly made nuvvula podi (sesame spice powder: white sesame seeds dry-roasted until popping, ground coarsely with dried red chilli, cumin, coriander, garlic, and asafoetida) and sesame oil, so the powder coats every grain. Tempered with mustard seeds, dried red chilli, and curry leaves poured hot over the rice. Eaten warm or at room temperature; each grain is coated with the nutty, slightly bitter, aromatic sesame powder. The preparation is specific to Telangana festivals and auspicious days; offered particularly at temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The freshly ground sesame powder cannot be replaced with pre-ground versions — the volatile oils evaporate within hours of grinding, reducing the preparation to bland oil-coated rice.

Cuisines

Rayalaseema Andhra Telangana

Best for

Lunch

Recipe

Prep: 20 min Cook: 40 min Total: 60 min 2-3 servings

Ingredients

1 cup basmati rice
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 tablespoons ghee
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
2 tablespoons cashew nuts
1 pinch asafoetida
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 tablespoon curry leaves
2 green chilies, slit
1 lemon, juiced
— salt to taste

Instructions

  1. 1 Wash and soak the basmati rice for 20 minutes.
  2. 2 Cook the rice with 2 cups of water until it's fluffy and grains are separate. Set aside to cool.
  3. 3 Dry roast the sesame seeds until golden and aromatic. Allow them to cool, then grind into a coarse powder.
  4. 4 Heat ghee in a pan over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and mustard seeds, allowing them to splutter.
  5. 5 Add cashew nuts and fry until golden brown.
  6. 6 Add asafoetida, turmeric powder, curry leaves, and green chilies. Sauté for a minute.
  7. 7 Add the cooked rice to the pan and mix gently to coat the rice with the spices.
  8. 8 Add the ground sesame seed powder and salt. Mix well to combine all the flavors.
  9. 9 Finally, add lemon juice and give it a final mix.
  10. 10 Serve hot with a side of yogurt or pickle.

Tips

For extra flavor, dry roast the sesame seeds until they are a deep golden brown, but be careful not to burn them.