How To Make Easy Masale Bhat Maharashtrian Style

Masale Bhat is a traditional, aromatic, spicy rice preparation from the Maharashtrian cuisine. A one pot vegan meal that's made with rice, veggies & spices.

Today is my birthday and I wanted to share a recipe that is extremely special to me. I have grown up in a cosmopolitan environment. We lived in an apartment which was a healthy mix of religion and cultures. WE actually had people with different ethnic backgrounds living under one roof. This helped all of us in a big way. We got to learn of different customs, traditions and festivals without making an effort. Since our apartment building was such, there was always something or the other going on and we would all come together to celebrate it. I feel we kids benefited the most as because of all these festivals, we got to eat sweets and treats all the time. Although I grew up in a multi-lingual atmosphere, I grew particularly fond of one cuisine - The Maharashtrian food. For starters, two of my most closest neighbors were Maharashtrians and I was always in an out of their homes. Since I would spend most of my awake time there, I would invariably share their meal too. I can safely say that after my own cuisine (South Indian), Maharashtrian cuisine is my second favorite. I would enjoy watching my friend's mom cook and then insist my mom to cook the same dishes. We would even exchange spice mixes between our families. 

They would want my mom's homemade sambhar powder while we would want their homemade Goda masala. Just to make me happy, mom would add their masala to the curry on certain days. In fact, even today, I get their homemade goda masala from Bombay whenever I can and use it here whenever I crave for their home food. Masale Bhat was one dish that my neighbor aunty prepared on special days like her children's birthdays. The birthday parties back in the 90s was very different and simple. Unlike today, back then we would be very content in having our friends over fora party in the evening where the birthday boy or girl would cut a simple birthday cake and then all the kids would be given a plateful of treats consisting of samosa, potato chips, chocolate and a chunk of cake. While all this was reserved for the guests in general, family and close friends were treated with a full course dinner post the party. I obviously looked forward to that! It was when I would get to eat Masale Bhat! We were totally 5 of us who would sit to eat together and eat this rice dish straight off the pan! Yes, I know it will be frowned upon today, but back then, we didn't mind this at all, in fact we looked forward to eating and sharing a meal like this. 

Me and my friend would specially eye for the burnt part of the rice that's stuck at the bottom on the pan and would relish it! My friend's mom was an excellent cook. Everything she made would easily become my favorite and Masale Bhat was definitely one of them. Since she only made this one special occasions, I would wait for it. Only when I grew up did I get to know that Masale Bhat was like a regular dish in many Maharashtrian households and was usually prepared using yesterday's leftover rice. It's like a quick fix when there is nothing to cook and hunger pangs are on an all time high! It's funny how things vary in different households. My neighbor aunty treated this dish like a very special dish which she made occasionally while others would make it all the time. We lost her to cancer many years ago. I still miss her food so much. Even though I have tried recreating many of her dishes, it just doesn't taste the same. After all these years, I again had Masale Bhat at a friend's house and her dish reminded me of my neighbor. I asked my friend for her recipe and decided to give it a try. In fact I even did a Facebook Live where I showed how to make Masale Bhat or Phodnicha Bhat. You can check it out here - Facebook Live!

Like I mentioned before, you can prepare this rice dish using either freshly prepared rice or leftovers. I personally like using Basmati rice as it has a better taste. But you can use any rice variety. But it helps if the rice is grainy and not mushy and sticking to one another. The recipe is very simple to make and needs just basic ingredients that are easily available in our kitchens. First, cook rice and keep it aside. Heat oil in a pan. if you are not vegan, you can even make Masale Bhat in ghee. Once the oil is hot, temper mustard seeds. As they begin to crackle, add minced garlic, green chillies and chopped cilantro. I learnt this trick from a friend. I always add half of the cilantro to the oil and fry it with the other ingredients. It gives an amazing flavor to the dish. I use the remaining half as garnish. You too give this a try and let me know if you felt the difference too. Fry till the garlic is cooked and then add chopped onions to the pan. Saute till they turn translucent. Next add cashews and peanuts to the pan. Fry for 30 more seconds and then add turmeric powder. This is what will give it a natural yellow color. You don't need any other spice powders for this dish. Mix the powder in the masala and then add the rice along with salt. Mix it all together ensuring that the masala coats the rice well. Garnish with chopped cilantro and lemon juice. Serve hot with papad/pickle/yogurt.

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Maharashtrian Style Masale Bhat

Masale Bhat is a traditional, aromatic, spicy rice preparation from the Maharashtrian cuisine. A one pot vegan meal that's made with rice, veggies & spices.

5 from 3 votes

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Course: Breakfast, Main Course, rice, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: Indian, Maharashtrian

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Author: Priya Lakshminarayan

Ingredients 

• ▢ 2 cups rice
• ▢ 1 tbsp oil
• ▢ 1 tsp mustard seeds
• ▢ 5-6 cloves garlic
• ▢ 2-3 green chillies
• ▢ 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• ▢ 1 onion
• ▢ 2 tbsp cashews
• ▢ 1/3 cup peanuts
• ▢ 1 tsp turmeric powder
• ▢ salt to taste
• ▢ 1 tbsp lemon juice optional

Instructions

• First, cook rice and keep it aside. Heat oil in a pan. if you are not vegan, you can even make Masale Bhat in ghee. Once the oil is hot, temper mustard seeds. As they begin to crackle, add minced garlic, green chillies and chopped cilantro. I learnt this trick from a friend. I always add half of the cilantro to the oil and fry it with the other ingredients. It gives an amazing flavor to the dish. I use the remaining half as garnish. You too give this a try and let me know if you felt the difference too. Fry till the garlic is cooked and then add chopped onions to the pan. Saute till they turn translucent. Next add cashews and peanuts to the pan. Fry for 30 more seconds and then add turmeric powder. This is what will give it a natural yellow color. You don't need any other spice powders for this dish. Mix the powder in the masala and then add the rice along with salt. Mix it all together ensuring that the masala coats the rice well. Garnish with chopped cilantro and lemon juice. Serve hot with papad/pickle/yogurt.

Notes

Those allergic to peanuts can skip it.

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Need some more ideas to cook with rice, try these recipes then - Simple Carrot Fried Rice, Vegan Tomato Basil Rice, Burnt Garlic Fried Rice, Mint Pistachio Vegetable Rice, South Indian Lemon Chickpea Rice, Pistachios Dill Turmeric Brown Rice, Roasted Peanut Rice, Lahsuni Palak Rice, Tomato Rice, Cheese Rice Methi Kebab and Tendli Masala Bhaat.