This is my standard “exhausted after clinic” dinner- prep time: 5 minutes, rice cooker time: 20-30 min

1)rinse 1 cup of long grain basmati rice twice

2)remove rice cooker bowl (the cheaper ones let you do this), add 1 tbsp vegetable oil or olive oil and heat till it shimmers

3) add one at a time at 5 sec intervals :1 tsp cumin seeds, 1 pinch asafetida, ½ tsp turmeric , 1-2 red chilies and 3-4 kadipatta or curry leaves (I didn’t have any today- it’s ok)

4) add rinsed rice and wait till you can smell the rice toasting (1-2 min)

5) add 2 ¼ cups of water to rice

6) add a cup of your favorite frozen veggies (today – I added peas, corn and beans)

7) add salt till the water tastes as salty as the ocean or more poetically as salty as your tears

8) return bowl to rice cooker and let the rice cooker do its thing

9) serve with yogurt or raita (that’s the protein component of the dish)