Vegetable Pulao - Another One Pot Meal

This post is literally hot off the stove. I made it, took the pictures while it was still steaming, had lunch and came up to write this post. So here it is .
Don't you just love Sunday afternoon meals? I think this day in particular lends itself very well to a one pot meal consisting mainly of rice followed by a very quick leap into the bed for a nice afternoon siesta. Though, here I have to admit that I did not have the aforementioned siesta. But I still enjoyed the afternoon, tucking into the pulao and spending time with the family.
Except for the lack of protein in this meal, I pack it with a LOT of vegetables. My kids complain about it all the time saying that it has more veggies than rice but I simply cannot help myself. I feel every meal needs to be nourishing and good for the body in some form or the other.
This pulao is different from a biryani in that there are no tomatoes used.  It is just a different tasting dish. A lot milder actually and not so full of spices and masalas. Quite delicious to say the least.

Now for the recipe.

This recipe serves 6-8 people for a meal in itself.

INGREDIENTS:

Masala Paste

Garlic 8 cloves
Ginger - 2 inch piece
Green Chillis - 4
Cardamom - 4 pods
Cloves - 4
Cinnamon - 2 inch piece
Mint leaves - about 1/4 cup


Basmati rice - 3 cups
Onions - 3 sliced
Bayleaf - 3-4
Cumin seeds - 1 teaspoon
Ghee/ Oil - 3 tablespoons
Salt to taste

Carrots - 1cup diced ( About 350 grams)
Cauliflower - 1 cup cut into small florets
Beans - 1 cup diced
Peas - 1 cup

Coriander leaves 2 tablespoons


METHOD:

Grind the masala paste ingredients with a little water till it is a fines paste.

Soak the Basmati rice in water for about half an hour.

Heat ghee/oil (or a combination of the two) on a medium flame.

Add the cumin seeds and bay leaf till the cumin turns golden.

Add the sliced onions and fry till it turns translucent and then add the masala paste.

Fry well. Add the vegetables other than the cauliflower.

Drain and add the rice. Fry for a few minutes.

Add  4-5 cups of water, salt cauliflower and coriander leaves.

Cook in a pressure cooker or a rice cooker till just done.

Serve hot with onion raita.


ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!