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Kitcherie

by Mary-Anne Boermans from Deja Food

This recipe for kitcherie, the inspiration for the Anglo-Indian dish kedgeree, uses rice, lentils and eggs to make a satisfying vegetarian breakfast.

From the book

Mary-Anne Boermans

Introduction

This recipe for kitcherie, from The Practical Cook, English and Foreign (1845), comes from the twilight years of the hugely influential British East India Company. Granted a royal charter by Queen Elizabeth I in 1600, the company would dominate trade for more than 200 years, and assumed administrative powers for over a century before the Government of India Act ushered in the era of the British Raj in 1858. Kitcherie is a delightful vegetarian meal in itself, but can also be served as part of a larger spread of dishes, or indeed at the more traditional times of breakfast or brunch.

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Ingredients

300g basmati rice
4 large eggs
2 tbsp plus ½ tsp salt
60g unsalted butter
4 onions, sliced into half moons
½ tsp coarse-ground black pepper
1 tin green lentils, drained and rinsed
chopped fresh parsley, to garnish

Method

Put the rice in a bowl and pour over cold water. Swirl the rice around with your fingertips; the water will become cloudy from the dust and flour on the grains. Pour off the cloudy water and repeat the washing until the water runs clear.This will require 4 or 5 rinses. Cover the rice with fresh water and add the 2 tablespoons of salt. Stir well. Leave to soak for at least 30 minutes, preferably an hour.

Bring a pan of water to the boil, add the eggs and reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes. Pour off the water and add cold water to cool the eggs.

Melt the butter in a pan and add the onions. Toss in the butter and sprinkle over the remaining salt and pepper. Fry gendy over a medium heat until the onions are golden and crisp at the edges. Set aside.

Drain the rice and rinse under running water to wash away the salt. Bring at least 2 litres of water to the boil, tip in the rice and cook for 3 minutes.Tip in the rinsed lentils and cook for a further minute. Taste and check for done-ness. Turn off the heat and drain the rice and lentils through a sieve. Put the sieve back over the pan and cover with the lid. Leave to steam dry for 10 minutes.

Fluff the rice and lentils with a fork and add to the pan with the onions. Toss gently to mix.

Remove the shells from the eggs and cut into quarters. Transfer the rice mixture to a warmed serving plate and tuck the egg quarters around the dish. Garnish with a little chopped parsley and serve.

Reviews

5 out of 5 stars

1 Ratings

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1 Comment

    default user avatar Nolina Frackson

    Is good and I think the dish can taste good

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