Sesame Rice (Instant Pot recipe)

This Page contains affiliate links.Read the full Disclosure here.

Sesame Rice (Pulagam) is a festive delicacy, specifically made for the festival of Sankranti in Telangana region. It is usually made on the day of Bhogi, the first day of the Sankranthi festival. The festival is celebrated in the joy of new harvest of crops. Since the new crops are home, the festive food is made by using them and offered as Naivedyam to God almighty first. 

To make this Sesame Rice, fresh crop of rice is cooked along with black sesame seeds powder. It is then savored with generous amount of ghee (clarified butter) and Vankaya Bajji (eggplant curry). Along with it we usually make Garjelu/Kajjikayalu or Puran poli (Bakshyalu) for dessert.

Pulagam is usually made with black sesame seeds. But I see that the variety of sesame seeds avalable in US can turn the dish very bitter. So with that bad experience I started making it with brown sesame seed powder. It tastes same but I miss the authentic color of the dish. Lastly the Rice is very nutritious and rich in Iron, Calcium, Protein and fiber and  Kid friendly recipe.

Servings:

Four (4)

Total time:

30 minutes 

Ingredients: (I use US standard measuring; 1cup=8oz=250ml)

• 2 cups Rice
• 1/2 cup black or brown/white Sesame seeds (I used brown variety)
• 2 tablespoons Moong dal ( skinned, split green gram)
• 1 tablespoon Ghee (Clarified butter)
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 4 cups water 

Sesame Rice Recipe 

1. Dry roast the sesame seeds, cool them and make a smooth powder in coffee grinder or a blender.
2. Dry roast 2 tablespoons moong dal (pesarapappu).
3. Mix both with raw rice( do not wash the rice) and stir nicely.This is usually done a day before to make the rice flavored with sesame flavor.Or you can cook immediately if you don't have time.I always use Sona masoori Rice for this recipe. It's the same Rice we use for everyday cooking.
4. Add above rice, 4 cups water, ghee, salt in a Instant Pot inner pot. Mix. 
5. Set IP on manual pressure, high pressure , 8 minutes or use Rice setting. NPR for 5 minutes and then release pressure manually.Open the lid, mix the rice nicely so sesame powder has not accumulated on the top.
6. Serve the rice with Eggplant Curry (Vankaya Bajji) or Tomato chutney and melted Ghee.mix Rice with Ghee and Curry and enjoy.
   
   
   

Looking for more Instant pot recipes, try my Moong sprouts bhaji, Swiss chard Dhal, Raw banana chanadal sukhi sabji and Chard curry. Also check out my Instant pot ginger chai recipe which is fool proof everyday Chai recipe that I enjoy.