Vegetable Pulao

Vegetable Pulao is a very popular dish in Indian cooking prepared with rice and vegetables and served with raita / yoghurt and salad.

I used to prepare vegetable pulao in the traditional way of boiling rice and vegetables in a cooker but tried this recipe in the microwave (900 wattage). It tasted just as fine. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

Vegetables (equal quantity each)

• 50 gms peas, shelled
• 50 gms carrot, finely chopped
• 50 gms cauliflower florets, small pieces
• 50 gms french beans, finely chopped
  
• 1 cup basmati rice
• 100 gms paneer, cut into small cubes
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 tsp jeera / cumin seeds
• 1 large cinnamon sticks / dalchini (halved into 2 pieces)
• 2 cloves / laung / lobongo
• 2 black cardamoms / badi elachi (crushed)
• 2 bay leaves / tejpata
• 50 gms raisins / kishmish
• 1 tsp ghee / white oil
• 2 cups water
• salt to taste

Garnish:

• roasted cashewnuts / kaju (halved)
• 1 bunch coriander leaves, finely chopped

Procedure:

1. Wash the rice thoroughly. Take a deep bowl of water and soak rice for 20 mins.
2. Soak the raisins in water (if you are using refrigerated raisins) and drain the water after 5 mins. Keep aside.
3. Take a microwave safe bowl and microwave oil / ghee at 100% power for 30 mins.
4. Add chopped onion at microwave at 100% power for 1 min.
5. Add cumin seeds, cinnamon sticks, cloves, black cardamoms, bay leaves to the sauted onions and microwave at 100% power for 1 min (Stir after 30 secs).
6. Add the raisins, all the vegetables, soaked rice and 2 cups of water (ratio is 1 cup rice: 2 cups of water) and microwave covered at 100% power for 10 mins.
7. Add the paneer cubes and microwave covered at 100% power for 1 min.
8. Now microwave again at 60% power for 5 more mins. Stir in between.
9. Allow to stand in the micro for 5 mins.
10. Transfer in a serving plate and garnish with roasted cashewnuts and chopped coriander leaves.
11. Serve hot with dal, salads and yoghurt / raita.