Kallummakkaya Choru / Mussels Rice

Ingredients:

30-40 mussels / kallummakkaya, cleaned
3 cups kaima rice / jeerakashala rice
3 onions, sliced
2 green chillies, slit
3/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 1/2 tsp fennel powder
3 tsp coriander powder
1 1/2 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp crushed pepper
salt to taste
oil

Preparation:

1. Wash the kaima rice and drain it. Keep it aside.
2. In a bowl, add chilli powder, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, crushed pepper and salt, mix well and make a paste adding little water.
3. Marinate the cleaned mussels in this paste for 10-15 minutes and then shallow fry using 3-4 tbsp oil till golden brown and keep it aside.
4. Heat 4-5 tbsp oil in a thick bottomed pan and add sliced onions and saute well adding little salt.
5. Add slit green chillies and saute well.
6. Then add 7 cups of water , 1/2 tsp turmeric powder, coriander powder and 1 tsp fennel powder and mix well. Cover with a lid and bring it to a boil.
7. Add drained rice to this, mix well and cook covered.
8. When it starts to boil, add salt and reduce the flame and cook covered on low flame.
9. When the rice is 3/4 th  cooked, add fried mussels and mix well with the rice.
10. Then cover and cook on low flame till it is done and water dries up. Add 1/4 tsp fennel powder and mix well. 
11. Remove from the flame and serve hot…