Weekend dinner and Rice pulao

I don't really like the weekends to end. Who does?
Sunday nights are like those nights when you leave your laziness and steel yourself to face another week of organized mayhem instead of lazing around in PJs and reading books/watching TV and let the baby eat loads of popcorn.
Sunday dinners are special cos we rarely have them....we finish our meal as an early supper.
Here is the comforting recipe which was passed to me by MIL.

You need:
Rice- 1 cup
Onions- 1 medium, chopped finely
Garlic- 2-3 cloves, chopped finely
Green chillies- 2
Ginger-1" piece
Tomatoes- 2
Potatoes- 2, cut in wedges
Peas- 1/2 cup
Oil- 1tbsp
Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp
Dhaniya powder-1 tsp
red chilly powder- 1 pinch
Garam Masala-1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste

How  to make:
1. Wash rice thoroughly. Soak in drinking water for 15-20 min.
2. Grind tomatoes, ginger, garlic and green chillies together into a coarse paste.
3. Heat oil in a pressure cooker. Saute onions in it till they turn golden brown.
4. Add the tomato paste and mix well. Now add the spices , mix and let it cook till the oil leaves side. Add water if the gravy is sticking to the sides.
5. Add Potatoes and cook for a minute or so. Then add peas and rice.
6. Add more water if required. Cover the cooker and put the whistle.
7. After two whistles, reduce the flame and let it cook for 2-3 minutes. Turn off the heat and wait for the cooker to cool.
8. Enjoy your pulao with curd or raita.

Vegetable pulao/rice (open pan cooked)

I like pulao/pilaf.

They are easy to make and yummy (unless you under-cook the rice). They can be made into a simple wholesome meal.

Also you can hardly go wrong with it. My picky 1 year old has never refused any rice preparation..:)


You need:
Ghee/Clarified butter- 1 tbsp
Rice- 3/4 cup
Baby Peas- 1/4 cup ( you can use normal peas too)
Carrot- 1 medium , chopped into small pieces
Onion- 1 medium, chopped finely
Tomatoes- 1 , chopped
Cloves-2-3
Bay leaf- 1
Cinnamon- 1" piece
Salt - to taste
Water to cook rice ( It'll more or less depend on the kind of rice you use, the regular everyday rice takes about 2 cups)
Lemon- 1/2 (optional)
 ( You can add any kind of vegetables that you have at hand in this recipe)

How to make:
1. Wash the rice thoroughly and soak for about 20-30 min.
2. Heat ghee in a Kadhai (wok). Add cloves, cinnamon and bay leaf.
3. Add onions and cook until translucent. (If you want a spicy version, please add whole red chillies before adding onion). Now add carrots and cook for a few minutes.
4. Drain water of rice and add to the kadhai. Turn the rice gently otherwise the grains will break.
5. When the rice starts drying out add peas and salt. Cook for some time.Add water and tomatoes. Let it come to slight boil at a medium high flame. Lower the flame and cook till the rice are done.
6. Squeeze half lemon on it and fluff it with fork. Enjoy with raita or plain curd. I could eat it just like that, no sides required.

PS: I've posted a similar recipe previously. You can make your version too!!

Vegetable pulao/pilaf

This recipe is not only easy to make but is also a treat for the taste buds. It can be served on the sides or as main dish with yogurt and/or pickle. A number of variants are present in every household in India.

Serves 2

Ingredients
1. Rice (Basmati)- 1 cup
2. Carrots- 1/2 cup chopped
3. Beans - chopped about 1 tbsp
4. Peas- 1/2 cup
5. Potatoes- 1 medium, chopped into small cubes
6. Clove-1 crushed
7. Black cardamom- 1 ,crushed
8. Green cardamom- 2-3. crushed
9. Cinnamon- 1/4 tsp
10. Jeera (cumin seeds)- 1/2 tsp
11. Coriander powder- 2 tsp
12. Red chilli powder- 1/2 tsp or to taste
13. Salt- 1/3 tsp or as per taste
14. Ghee- 1 & 1/2 tbsp
15. A dash of lime

( You can use any number of vegetables. I usually use what ever I have left with in the fridge in small amounts. Avoid pungent vegetables like onions, broccoli or cauliflower here, as they have a strong taste of their own. Savor the flavor of fragrant spices.)

Cooking equipments you will need:
• Pressure cooker
• Chopping board
• Knife
• Ladle/ long steel spoon

Method
1. Wash and drain the rice thoroughly. Then steep the rice in water for 10-15 min.
2. Wash and prepare the vegetables on the chopping board.
3. Take the pressure cooker. Heat ghee in it.
4. Add clove, green & black cardamom and cinnamon.
5. When they start to sizzle add cumin seeds. These will probably splatter immediately too.
6. Now add red chilli powder and add vegetables right after it.
7. Add coriander powder and toss the vegetables in the spice mixture.
8. Cook at high flame for 2-3 min.
9. Now add the rice and water(about 2 cups).
10. Close the lid and keep it on high flame till one whistle.
11. Switch off the gas and let the cooker cool down.
12. Serve hot.

The rice should not be mushy, avoid keep on the flame for a longer period as it will lead to overcooking of the rice.

Happy eating!