Feb 13 2008
Aalbad – One pot meal
Aalbad -  (aal) as in aaloo ; bad as in alaha’bad’ - Preparation with rice and veggies in onion-chilli paste.
I had never heard about “Aalbad” until my friend -NaN introduced it to me. Apparently it is a very famous Telangana/Hyderabad preparation. Still beats me how I hadn’t heard about it ever. I got so obsessed with the dish that I started making it 3 times a week. Yes, I overdo things. Right now it gotten to a point where the mention of “aalbad” gives me nausea. 3 months of ghee-laden dish can do that to you 
It is a great dish and I think everyone must try it at least once for its simplicity and superb flavor. So here goes my first dish after a several-month hiatus. Also the blog turned 2 earlier this month. Happy Birthday bloggie! Yes. Very low-key.
–ingredients————————————-
- 3 cups long-grained white rice
- Potato, cubed to 1.5 inch size – 1 cup [or cubed paneer - 1/2 cup + cubed potatoes - 1/2 cup]
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup roughly chopped onion
- 5 green chillies (adjust according to you palate)
- Bay leaves – 1
- Mint – 1 cup [the more the merrier..but if you have at least 1 tbsp that should do it]
- Cilantro/coriander – 2 tablespoons
- Curry leaves – 5
- Star anise – 1 [or fennel seeds - 1 tbsp]
- Cloves – 3
- Ghee/Clarified Butter – 2 tbsp (??!!???!!)
- Carrot, cubed – 1/2 cup [optional]
- Peas – 1/4 cup
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–procedure—————————————-
- Grind green chillies and onions. Keep aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 2 tbsp ghee in a thick bottomed vessel.
- Add bay leaf, cloves, star anise and curry leaves.
- To this add the onion-green chillie paste and fry for about 4-5 mins.
- Add all the vegetables, mint and coriander leaves.
- After 10 mins add coconut milk and water (rice:water :: 1:1.5). Mix salt in (about 1 tbsp in this case)
- Cook in an electric rice cooker until done.
Serve hot with raita.
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Yes, it is that simple. The fried onion-green c paste is the killer in this dish. Absolutely amazing. During the holidays I made “Aalbad” for every other party we hosted and got rave reviews. Thanks NaN for the recipe! Ooh, that is a cool nickname I gave you.
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 Plus this is my entry to MMM – One dish dinners. Meeta, tossing my “aalbad” your way 
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Updated on 2/14/08Â
Hark! Hark! I am going to send this entry (it has star anise) to Sunita for Think Spice – Think Star Anise. Yes, Sig has that kind of influence on me.
 -Mythili
WHAT??? is that a recipe I see? Am I dreaming???
Love that first picture…
Do you want me to come over and pinch you?? I could do that
Yes it feels good to be back. And it would be nice if I can sustain 3 recipes a week regime. Let’s see.
Mythili dear.. I am glad you realized you have a blog after all
Too many Dan Browns?
wow, the pictures just pops out! beautiful…
happy 2nd blog anniversary mythili
Aal bad!! Don’t think so!! ;D
Great unique recipe, never heard of this before!:))
Happy 2 nd, enjoy the V day too.
looks gr8! thanx 4 sharing…
Congratulations for blogging anniversary Mythili.
Aalbad…never heard of it before. It looks great. I will give it a try soon…..
[...] And Mr. Jeff Fisher, the Titans’ coach. The most stylish of all NFL (head) coaches. Thanks NaN for sharing this photo with me. [...]
[...] Aalbad – One pot meal [...]
[...] Aalbad – One pot meal mythili | Potato(aloo), Rice, Quick Cooking, Carrot, Ghee/Clarified butter | Wednesday, February 13th, 2008 Aalbad – (aal) as in aaloo ; bad as in alahabad - Preparation with rice and veggies in onion-chilli paste. I had never heard about Aalbad until my friend -NaN introduced it to me. Apparently it is a very famous Telangana/Hyderabad preparation. Still beats me how I hadnt heard about it ever. I got so obsessed with the dish that I started making it 3 times a source: Aalbad – One pot meal, Vindu [...]
[...] We were cooking in my kitchen for a party a few weekends ago. The menu included aalbad, cauliflower paratha and this brinjal preparation. The preparation, as you see below, does appear time consuming but the ROI is awesome. So do give it a shot and you won’t regret it. N and I served as sous-chefs to the friend and it took us 3 hours (yeah, clearly we were not efficient) [...]