Tomato Pulao with Vegetables
 
 
Spicy vegetable rice which can be made under 30 minutes and is a perfect Vegetarian comfort meal.
Author:
Recipe type: Entree
Cuisine: Indian
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 3 cups sona masoori rice(any short grain rice)
  • 1 tsp ghee/clarified butter
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 cloves
  • 4 cardamom
  • 1 inch cinnamon stick
  • 1 large onion cut to ⅓ inch long slices
  • 10 garlic cloves cut to halves
  • 4-5 green chillies slit in the middle(use accordingly)
  • 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 3 tomatoes diced
  • 2 carrots diced to ½ inch slices
  • 1 cup peas
  • ½ cup cup beans
  • 1-2 tsp red chili powder(use accordingly)
  • 1 tsp salt( or to taste)
  • ⅓ tsp turmeric powder
  • ½ cup light coconut milk(optional)
  • 3 cups of water( another ½ cup, only if you don't add coconut milk)
  • Mint- ½ cup or small bunch finely chopped
  • Cilantro/Coriander leaves- ½ bunch finely chopped
  • Juice of ½ lemon
  • Boiled eggs(optional) to serve with and Yogurt Raita
Instructions
  1. Wash and soak the rice for at least 30 minutes.
  2. In a pressure cooker or a thick bottomed deep dish pan, add the ghee and oil. Keep the flame on medium heat. Once it gets lightly hot, add the cumin seeds, cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon. After about 30 seconds, add the sliced onions and garlic. Keep sautéing until it is slightly translucent or browned, maybe about 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Then add the ginger-garlic paste, cut tomatoes, green chillies, red chilli powder, salt and turmeric and sauté.
  3. After the tomotoes disintegrate a bit for about 2-3 minutes, add the soaked rice and very gently mix everything. Add the coconut milk and water. Check for salt and spices. If you want to add more chilli powder, you can do that now. Bring it to a boil, add peas, cilantro and mint and juice of half a lemon.
  4. Cover, reduce the flame to lower medium and cook for 20 minutes or 2 whistles(if in a pressure cooker). After that turn off the heat and let it sit for another 15 minutes without opening.
  5. Open, top with eggs(optional) ,mix and stir gently and serve with onion Raita, Yogurt mixed with onion and tomatoes.
Notes
You can toast the rice on low to medium heat for 5 minutes, instead of soaking it and it's perfect too.
IF you don't want to bite into a chunk of cardamom or any spice, you could make a bouquet garni. Wrap all spices in a thin cloth and add to the oil. You can remove it once the rice is cooked.
The rice is a bit tricky to be perfect while cooking in a Pressure Cooker. So make sure to add water accordingly.
If you soak for more than 30 minutes, you are going to get mushier pulao.
If you find that your pulao is a bit mushy or the grains are not separate after cooking, put in in a flat serving bowl, let cool completely, it will separate and be perfect.
Recipe by Food Fashion Party at https://www.foodfashionparty.com/2016/01/06/spicy-tomato-pulao-vegetables/