Bhat Bhaja : What Bengalis Do With Left Over Rice

Me : Ma, Khabar e ki ache? ( Mom, what's for lunch?) Was our common question soon            after coming home from school and hastily dropping my bag.
Ma : Hath dhuey, jama change kore asho ( Wash your hands and change your clothes).
        Your Bhaat Bhaja is ready. Bhaat Bhaja (Fried Leftover Rice) used to be our favourite             food back then as it is even now.
It is a very simple and fulfilling dish that can be complete meal on its own.
Now, when I am donning the role of a mom, who has to think how to make healthy and tasty meals, this dish is my "go-to" preparation, which is not only liked by my son,but also saves me a lot of preparation time besides being nutritious.         

Ingredients :
2 cups of Cooked Rice
1 Carrot (diced)
1 Cup of Peas
1 Cup of Cauliflower Florets
1 Small Onion (sliced)
1/4th Cup of Peanuts
1 Tsp of Black Pepper powder
1/2 Tsp Ginger, minced
1/4th Tsp of Sugar
Salt to Taste
2 Tsp of Ghee (OR) Oil

Method :

In a kadhai, heat ghee or oil and add minced ginger. Now, add peanuts and sliced onions in the kadhai and cook on low flame till the onions become translucent. Toss in all the vegetables, sprinkle some salt and pepper powder. Cook them on low flame till the vegetables are almost done. Time to add cooked rice and give it a nice stir. Fry everything together in low flame for 4-5 minutes. Add a ladle of water if required to keep the moisture in the rice. Do not stir it for long or else the rice grains will break. Add sugar, check the seasoning and serve hot. 

Note :

• You can add fried eggs to the dish.
• The choice of vegetables in this dish is as per your liking. You may add Capsicum, Sweet Corn and French Beans.
• I have seen many of my aunts to add garam masala at the end.