Masale Bhaat a spicy and full of veggies Maharashtrian rice dish. Rice is cooked with vegetables, homemade goda masala and garnished with fresh coconut and coriander leaves.
What is Masale Bhat
Masale Bhaat literally means ‘Spicy Rice’ is a very popular Maharashtrian rice preparation. A typical Maharashtrian festive meal or wedding menu is incomplete without this spicy rice packed with goodness of veggies & flavors of aromatic freshly homemade masala. This rice preparation tastes best when paired with some Tomato Saar (soup) .To enhance the flavors serve this masala rice with dollops of ghee & garnish with freshly shredded coconut & cilantro leaves .What makes my masale bhaat recipe special is addition of aromatic homemade Goda masala. It is easy, quick to make and a wholesome rice preparation to make during festival of Gudi Padwa, Ganesh & Dussehra.
You can easily double or triple this rice recipe as per your need.
Ingredients to Make Maharashtrian Masale Bhaat
Rice: I use basmati rice to make masale bhaat. Alternatively, you can use any short grain rice like, Ambe Mor in this recipe.
Vegetables: For this recipe , I have used potatoes, cauliflower, peas. But you can use other vegetables like carrots, beans, brinjal or ivy gourd.
Goda Masala: A good & tasty masale bhat needs a flavourful goda masala. You can either use homemade masala (the recipe is in the recipe card) or use a store bought masala. I highly recommend using my recipe for the delicious masala.
Garnishing: What brings out the flavors of this masale bhaat recipe is the addition of generous amounts of ghee, freshly shredded coconut and cilantro leaves .
Oil: You can use any neutral tasting oil to make masale bhaat .You can even replace oil with ghee for a nutty rich flavor.
How To Make Masale Bhat:
Prepare the rice: Wash 1 cup of basmati rice 2-3 times with water until the water runs clear. Soak the washed rice in 3 cups of water for 20-30 minutes. Once the 20 minutes are up drain the water. Bring a pot of water to boil (around 3.5-4 cups of water). Add , salt & ghee to it, once it comes to a rolling boil, add the soaked and drained rice to it. Boil the rice for 10-15 minutes until its tender. Make sure you don’t cover the pot with a lid or overcook the rice. Once the rice is cooked, drain the excess water using a strainer. Allow the rice too cool down completely before making masale bhaat.
Making the masala: To make the masala, add oil to a pan , add all the spices and roast for3-4 minutes or until spices turn fragrant. Make sure to stir of shake the pan t o avoid burning of the spices. Allow the spices to col down. Add the cooled spices in a blender to form a coarse masala. Since we have added oil the masala will be slightly sticky in texture. Set aside.
Making Masale Bhaat: To a pan heat oil, add asafetida, turmeric, ginger, mustard seeds, curry leaves let them sizzle. Next, add diced potatoes, cauliflower cover and cook until tender. Add peas, salt ,sugar, goda masala combine well. Next, add cooked basmati rice and mix gently until it all comes together. Garnish the rice with chopped cilantro , shredded coconut & ghee roasted cashews. Top it with some ghee. Serve hot.
Can I make this recipe in a pressure cooker ?
You can make masale bhaat directly in the pressure cooker. If making it in the pressure cooker wash & soak the rice for 30 minutes. Make the tempering in a pressure cooker add the 1 cup soaked rice, along with 2.5 cups of water. Cook it on a medium flame up to 2 whistles .
Serving Suggestion:
Serve hot Masale Bhaat with Tomato Saar
Here are some more traditional Maharashtrian recipes that you can pair with this recipe
If You Have Tried This Recipe, I Would Love To Hear Your Feedback:
If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment. Above all, I love to hear your feedback and I do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you recreate this recipe, please rate below and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram: @nikfoodamour