Oralu Chitranna | Mixed Rice with Ground Masala ~ Simple Delicious Food Recipes

Oralu Chitranna is a Chitranna is made with ground spice powder and rice. It’s especially popular during festivals.

Chitranna or Chitrannam is a mixed rice variety where rice is pre cooked and mixed with the masala of your choice. So we have Lemon Rice, Coconut Rice, Tamarind rice, Mango Rice, Sesame Rice, etc.

During this series, I have even made Onion Rice, mixed spice rice and so on. Basically, this is made all over the south states using the various available lentils or spices.

Today for O, I have something called the Oralu Chitranna, which literally means Mixed rice made with ground masalas. Oralu refers to the stone grinders that were always used for making Dosa and Idli Batter. Even the chutneys were ground in an oralu or rotalu.

Since the masala for this rice was ground in the Oralu, this Chitranna was called as Oralu Chitranna. We no longer have those stone grinders and grind everything in a mixer jar. Still, the name continues to remain the same.

I made this for Saturday lunch along with another one. I was glad everybody liked this and wants it to be repeated.

Oralu Chitranna is the pick for O in the AtoZ Quick Under 30 Minutes, which is my theme in the Biryanis, Pulaos, Khichdis and Mixed Rices, where I am doing Quick Under 30 Minutes Meals. If you want to read some elaborate Biryanis, check out what I have for O in Spice your Life!

Oralu Chitranna

A to Z Quick Under 30 Minutes Meals

A for Achari Chana Vegetable Pulao
B for Bhuga Chawara
C for Cholia Chawal
D for Dal Khichdi
E for Ellu Sadam
F for Fodnicha Bhaat
G for Green Garlic Pulao
H for Hare Chane Ka Pulav
I for Ivygourd Masala Rice
J for Jevarisi Chitranna
K for Kadam Bhog
L for Lilva Pulao
M for Methi Matar wara Chawaran
N for Neyichor

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Step By Step Pictures for making Oralu Chitranna Oralu Chitranna 1

Oralu Chitranna 2 Karnataka Style Ground Chitranna

Oralu Chitranna | Mixed Rice with Ground Masala

Ingredients Needed:

For the ground Spice Masala

1/4 cup Copra / Dry Coconut, you can use fresh coconut as well.
1 tsp Tamarind extract
3 to 4 Green Chillies
A Pinch Asafoetida
1/2 tsp Fenugreek
A Pinch Turmeric Powder
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
2 tsp Sesame Seeds

For the Rice

2 cups Rice cooked
Salt to taste
2 tbsp Ground Nuts
Handful Cashew Nuts
1 tsp Mustard Seeds
1/2 tsp Urad Dal
1 tsp Chana Dal
1 Sprig Curry Leaves
2 tsp Cooking Oil

How to make Oralu Chitranna

Wash and soak rice and cook as you regularly cook. Spread the cooked rice to cool down.

For the ground spice masala

Take all the ingredients except green chilies and saute on high flame for a couple of minutes.
Allow to cool down and grind to a coarse powder along with green chilies.

For making the Chitrannam

Heat a nonstick pan with oil, tempering with curry leaves, chana dal, mustard seeds, urad dal, peanut nuts, cashew nuts, hing and saute well.
Next add the ground masala, tamarind extract, salt, turmeric powder and combine everything well. Let it cook for a couple of minutes.
Now add the cooked rice and mix well. When the rice is well mixed, switch off and let it stand for 5 mins.
Serve with appalam and poriyal.

Spicy Ground Masala Rice