Mix veg pulao /pilaf

Recently realised that till date my blog has only 1 rice recipe!!!1and that too a biryani ..Bombay biryani.A south Indian family(mine) where rice is an integral part of every day life and who have rice daily for their lunch and my blog has only 1 rice recipe .......I was totally drenched in remorse.

So set aside my drafts and took up this recipe for today .It is a mild ,aromatic dish low on spices and high on taste with an added crunch and flavour of veggies .A one pot dish that can be done in 20 mints from start to stop. Ideal for lunch box ,a lazy weekend meal or can even cater to the party menu.You can use vegetables of your choice ,but select a combination of different colours as it is visually appealing .Serve it with raita or pickle of your choice.My girl  leaves at 6 am and is back from the school at almost 3 pm in the noon .

A very long stay at the school .Usually they have 2 breaks with a gap of 2 hrs ,so I have to pack her 2 lunch boxes .One box mainly consists of fruits,nuts or some baked goodies ,and the second one should be a proper lunch -I mean to say wholesome food  that could keep her energising as well as healthy,so that she doesn't starve  .I prefer this dish for her lunch box served with pickle and some salad .

Its great for parties ,can be paired with ,chicken kurma  or butter chicken or  mint n cilantro chicken or Achari chicken and your party menu will be all set .

Now over to the recipe.....

INGREDIENTS 

• 2 cups /250 gms rice 
• 4 tablespoon oil 
• 1 onion
• 1 tomato (small)
• 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste 
• 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1/4 cup carrots 
• 1/4 cup peas
• 1/4 cup capsicum 
• 1/4 cup potato(OPTIONAL)
• 2 cardamoms
• 2 cloves
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 star anise
• 1 inch cinnamon
• 3 tablespoon coriander leaves
• 1 tablespoon mint leaves 
• salt to taste     

METHOD

1. Wash and soak rice for at least 30 mints.
2. Chop  all the veggies and set aside .
3. Add oil to  a pan or a sauce pan .
4. Add onions and the  whole spices and cook until golden brown .
5. Mean while add 4 cups of water  to another pot and bring it to rolling boil .
6. Now add ginger garlic paste and tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes are soft and mushy .
7. Add all the remaining spices and veggies  and cook for 1 mint .
8. Now add the hot water to the veggies .
9. Drain water from soaked rice and add it  to the veggies.
10. Cover and cook on medium heat until rice is done 3/4 and the mixture should be a little mushy.
11. Lower the heat to minimum and cover and stay it on dum until the rice is almost done .
12. Serve hot with curry,raita or pickle of your choice .   

NOTES

1. Make sure you drain the rice well before adding other wise rice turns out to be soggy .
2. You can use your choice of veggies .
3. Its even cooked in pressure cooker but I go this way just to avoid soggy rice .
4. Step 4 is just to fasten up the cooking ,water can directly be added and brought to boil .
5. Before putting it to dum there should be a bite in the grain of rice ,other wise you will end up to a soggy rice 
6. Donot over cook the veggies  as they loose their colour as well as taste .

.................................................Happy cooking 

linking this to Remyas event