Aromatic Peas and Carrot Pilaf for one

Submitted by Anu_N

"This is my very own, 100% original recipe for an authentic Indian "pulao". The word "pilaf" is distortion of the word "pulao" which simply means a rice dish cooked with veggies and spices. This tastes great with a spicy raita, or with plain yogurt. Using margarine makes this a vegan."

 

• Ready In: 50mins
• Ingredients: 14
• Yields: 1 main dish serving
• Serves: 1-2

ingredients

• 1⁄4 small onion, chopped
• 1⁄4 teaspoon garlic powder or 1/4 teaspoon garlic paste (You can use minced fresh garlic, to your taste)
• 1⁄2 1/2 teaspoon ghee or 1/2 teaspoon margarine
• 1⁄4 cup basmati rice or 1/4 cup long-grain rice
• 1⁄4 teaspoon cumin seed
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 -5 peppercorns
• 4 -5 cloves
• 1⁄4 cup carrot, sliced
• 1⁄4 cup fresh peas or 1/4 cup frozen peas
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
• 3⁄4 - 1 cup water
• pepper (optional)

directions

1. Wash the rice well; drain.
2. Melt butter/margarine/ghee in a saucepan over low to medium heat.
3. Saute garlic paste/powder/minced garlic in butter for about 15 seconds, then add the chopped onions and saute until browned, about 5-10 minutes.
4. Add the rice, cumin seeds, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, peppercorns, and cloves to the onion-garlic mixture and saute for 10-15 minutes or until the rice is evenly browned.
5. Now add carrots, peas, salt, and water, stir, bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook, without stirring, until the rice is tender, about 15-20 minutes.
6. Uncover and evaporate excess water if any, remove from flame, and fluff up with a fork.
7. Season with extra salt and pepper, if necessary, and serve hot!

Reviews

[Angela Sara]

This was beeeeautiful! I increased the servings to 4, I soaked the rice for about 20 minutes before using. It was delicious hot and superb cold... this is certainly going to be used by me veeery often. Thanks Anu!

 

[CookingTimeForMe]

I really liked this. It was a really yummy pulao, and easy to do. My only quibble is that the rice cooking times were off for me, but otherwise this was gold.

 

[Chef Kate]

I agree with everyone else. This dish smells fabulous and tastes even better. Very simple to do. Just count the cloves you put in so you can fish them out--not so lovely to bite into one.

 

[Sarat Shanmukh]

This is a really easy and tasty recipe. After saute-ing the rice with the onions and the spices, I cooked the mixture in a rice cooker with the right amount of water. It turned out great.

 

[Charishma_Ramchandani]

This is the FIRST Zaar recipe I made for 2003! Anu, you are a treasure, you know. I mean it. I just had to make something of yours today, coz I want to make your recipes all through the year! And so, at 11pm, I stepped into my kitchen and made this. WOW! Not just aromatic, it was very tasty too, topped with a dollop of chilled cold yogurt; this is "Best" served hot! Loved it, thanks for sharing! HAPPY NEW YEAR! I look forward to a bounty of recipes from you all through 2003! May all your dreams come true in 2003. May you attain success as deep as the depth of the ocean and as high as the pristine blue endless sky. May God Bless you!