A - Z Rice Recipes ~ O for Oliya

 
I started this week with a Rajasthani dish and am ending it on a sweeter note, with one more traditional dish from the same state called oliya. This dish was kinda what kick-started the idea of this A - Z Rice series, more than a year ago. I happened to hear about oliya for the first time on a Hindi TV serial though the team was creative enough not to show the actual dish. The actors pretended well enough to relish it from empty bowls and spoons piquing my curiosity to explore about it.
 
It turned out that oliya is a traditional rice based dish prepared during Holi in Rajasthan. It is a flavored and sweetened yogurt rice  with a creamy consistency like pudding. Rice is cooked softly and mixed with yogurt, sugar and nuts and flavored with saffron and cardamom that yields a tempting and delightful dessert ideal for scorching, summer days. The combination of yogurt and sugar is a natural coolant and this dish sounds perfect for the hot, arid climate that is typical for the state. 

Ingredients: 2 servings
1/2 cup cooked rice
1 & 1/2 cups yogurt (fat free one will also do.)
1/2 cup sugar or to taste (I added less.)
1/2 tsp. saffron strands + 1 tbsp. warm milk
1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
1/2 cup mix of raisins and chopped nuts like cashews, almonds and pistachios (or adjust the quantity)
 
Method:
* Cook rice very softly and when it cools down, mash it finely. (I used extra long grain rice which was best for this.)
* Slightly crush saffron strands between your fingers and soak in warm milk for about 5 to 10 minutes.
* Beat the yogurt lightly and mix with rice.
* Save some raisins and nuts for garnishing. Add sugar, saffron milk, cardamom and the remaining raisins and nuts to the yogurt rice mix from above and mix well.
* Chill the mixture for a couple of hours. Garnish with the saved raisins and nuts before serving.
 
Recipes so far in A - Z Rice Dishes,
A for Achaari Chole Pulao
B for Bhuna Khichuri
C for Chintapandu Pulihora
D for Dindigul Thalapakatti Veg Biryani
E for Ellorai / Ellotharai  
F for Fodnicha Bhaat 
G for Gongura Pulihora 
H for Hare Moong ki Chaaswaali Khichdi 
I for Iyengar Style Kadambam 
J for Jodhpuri Vegetable Pulao 
K for Kaju - Karivepaku Annam 
L for Lilva Khichdi
M for Mamidikaaya - Kobbari Pulihora 
N for Narali Bhaat

Check out the Blogging Marathon page for the other Blogging Marathoners doing BM# 68.
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