As is traditional with any Indian meal, I'll start with a sweet which will make the guests feel special. A German friend had recently requested the recipe for a "sweet cardamom rice thing", reading that brought a smile to my face :-)
I shall not be too specific about the quantities, which I think the host will be a better judge of.
Here is how I make it:
Wash rice well (a handful of uncooked rice should be sufficient for one litre of milk) and boil it in milk. A pressure cooker might be quicker. When the rice is fully done (it should be really soft and easily mashable!), add enough sugar to taste (add sugar only after the rice is fully done, rice does not boil after sugar is added), by this time, the milk would have reduced in quantity and become thicker. Powder cardamom seeds. Heat a little butter, add a few raisins, cashewnuts and the powdered cardamom seeds. Add this to the milk.
Note:
This is called "Payasam", if its in the consistency of a thickish soup or as "Chakkara pongal", if it is more like a pudding and if jaggery is added in place of sugar.
A few strands of saffron can be dissolved in milk and added too. This gives a very nice flavour
Take care not to burn the milk if you are boiling it in a vessel. Using a thick bottomed vessel might do the trick.
I'm signing off now... but will be back with more recipes soon.
