|
This month, try preparing
vegetable pulav (rice with mixed vegetables) the easy way.
I recently tried it and can definitely say that this dish will be
a go-to meal for me when I’m in a hurry. In a recent experiment
to satisfy my sweet tooth, I attempted to blend Indian and western
flavors, and the result was Pineapple-Saffron cake. Canned, crushed
pineapple blended with the light, exotic flavor of saffron turned
out to be a great combination. Try it next time you need to make a
quick but unique dessert.
Vegetable Pulav (Rice with Mixed
Vegetables)
Serves 2-4
My sister is a busy working mother. She recently
told me about a quick and easy vegetable pulav (rice with
mixed vegetables). Preparing most of the ingredients and the final
product in a pressure cooker takes a lot less time to make and tastes
just as good.
Ingredients
1 small clove garlic, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
1 small green chili, roughly chopped
1 medium onion, thinly sliced lengthwise
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves
1 bay leaf
1 cinnamon stick (about one inch long)
1 cup basmati rice, washed and dried thoroughly
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
½ cup cauliflower florets
½ cup carrots, chopped into one-inch sticks
¼ cup frozen green peas
1 ½ cups water
½ bunch cilantro, chopped finely
Instructions
1. Blend garlic, ginger, green chili, half of the onions and half
of the cilantro in a blender with 1-2 tablespoons water until a chunky
paste forms (about 1-2 minutes). Set aside.
2. Melt butter in the pan of a pressure cooker on
medium-low heat.
3. Add cloves, bay leaf and cinnamon stick and sauté
for 2 minutes.
4. Add basmati rice and cook until rice begins to
get translucent, about 4-5 minutes.
5. Remove rice from pan and set aside.
6. Add oil to the pressure cooker pan on medium-low
heat.
7. Add cumin seeds and fry for two minutes.
8. Add prepared paste and sauté for two minutes.
9. Add remaining onions and sauté for three
minutes.
10. Add cauliflower florets and carrots. Stir and
cook for 3-4 minutes.
11. Add peas, rice and water. Mix well.
12. Close pressure cooker and cook for three whistles
on high heat.
13. Turn off heat and wait until pressure cooker
cools completely before opening.
14. Transfer pulav to a serving dish and
garnish with remaining cilantro.
15. Serve with raita
and enjoy.
Tips/Suggestions:
- Other vegetables or herbs that can be added are green beans,
lima beans, corn and fresh mint.
- It is very important that the pressure cooker
cool completely before opening.
- Sautéed cashews or raisins are a
great garnish for this dish.
|
|
