Vegetable Pulao

Tepidly flavored vegetable pulao and a lip smacking feast to all food lovers!!!

Prep Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 10 min
Serves: 3

Ingredients

1. Basmati rice - 1 cup
2. Thick coconut milk (fresh / store bought) - 1/2 cup
3. Water - 1.75 cups
4. Salt - to taste
5. Ghee - 3 tsp
6. Vegetable oil - 2 tbsp

Whole spices

1. Bay leaves - 2
2. Cinnamon stick - 1" piece
3. Caradmom pods - 3
4. Cloves - 3
5. Star anise - 1
6. Black cardamom - 1
7. Ginger (crushed) - 1" piece
8. Garlic pods (crushed) - 10

Vegetables

1. Onions (peeled, washed & diced) - 3 medium sized
2. Green capsicum (washed & diced) - 1 medium sized
3. Potato (peeled, washed & diced) - 1 medium sized
4. Carrot (peeled, washed & diced) - 2 medium sized
5. Beans (washed & chopped to 1/4" piece) - 1/2 cup
6. Fresh / frozen green peas - 1/4 cup
7. Fresh / frozen corn kernels - 1/4 cup
8. Spring onion greens (finely chopped) - 1/2 cup
9. Coriander leaves (finely chopped) - 1 tbsp
10. Mint leaves (finely chopped) - 1 tbsp

Method

1. Soak basmati rice in water for half an hour and drain.
2. Wash rice for about 3 to 4 times & drain water completely; set aside.
3. Heat ghee in a pan, add all the whole spices except ginger & garlic; saute for a min or two in medium flame.
4. Add the drained rice, crushed ginger & garlic pods; saute for 3 to 4 min and set aside.
5. Add vegetable oil in the same wok, add diced onions & saute until translucent.
6. Add rest of the vegetables, salt & saute in high flame for 3 min.
7. Cover with lid & cook on low flame for 5 min stirring at regular intervals.
8. Open lid, combine contents & cook uncovered on low flame for another 5 min until fairly dry; set aside.
9. Transfer sauteed rice & vegetables on to a large vessel; add water, salt, coconut milk, chopped coriander & mint leaves; mix well.
10. Adjust salt according to taste.
11. Pressure cook on high flame for a single whistle.
12. Pressure cook on medium flame for 3 whistles.
13. Pressure cook on low flame for 2 whistles.
14. Switch off gas & give a standing time to the pressure cooker (say for about 15 min) before opening the lid.
15. Serve hot along with onion raita, simple gravy, potato chips or with any other gravy & raita of your choice.