Tawa Pulao

Though i haven't tasted this pulao before, found this interesting recipe from vahrehvah and tried it immediately. This pulao was entirely different and spicier than usual pulao. We can also call it as fried rice style pulao. You can also prepare this pulao with left over rice. The recipe follows..

Recipe For : 2

Preparation Time : 40 minutes

Ingredients:

Basmati Rice           - 1 cup
Carrot                      - 1 (medium size)
Potato                      - 1 (medium size)
Fresh Peas               - a handful
Capsicum                - 1/2
Big Onion                - 1
Tomato                     - 1
Ginger-Garlic paste - 2 tbsp
Salt                           - As required
Turmeric Powder      - 1/4 tsp
Amchoor Powder      - 1/4 tsp (Dry Mango Powder)
Red Chili Paste         - 1/2 tsp
Cumin Seeds             - 1/2 tsp (Seeragam)
Coriander Leaves      - few
Oil                              - 2 tbsp

To Dry roast and Powder:

Dry red Chili      - 1
Coriander Seeds - 1/4 tsp (Malli)
Cumin Seeds       - 1/4 tsp (Seeragam)
Fennel Seeds       - 1/4 tsp (Perunjeeragam / Sombu)
Cloves                  - 2 (Krambu)
Cinnamon Stick   - 1 (Pattai)
Green Cardamom - 2(Elakkai)

Procedure:

• Cook 1 cup of Basmati rice with 2 cups of water.  Chop Carrot, potato and capsicum into medium size pieces. Boil carrot, potato and fresh peas. Chop finely Big onion and tomato. Click here for knowing How to Prepare Red Chili paste at home?. Dry roast and powder everything under ' To Dry Roast and Powder'. This masala powder is nothing but, Pav Bhaji Masala powder. You can also use ready made Pav Bhaji masala powder instead.
• Heat oil in a pan. Add Cumin seeds to it.
• When they splutter, add chopped onions to it. After they turn translucent, add Ginger-Garlic paste to it.
• Saute till raw flavor goes off and then add capsicum. Saute for some time and then add boiled carrot, potato and peas. Add also chopped tomato.
• After tomatoes have been cooked well, add salt, red chili paste , turmeric powder, amchoor powder and ground masala powder.   We are adding both Red Chili paste and Chili powder. So adjust spice according to your taste. Give it a good stir and add cooked rice to it. Toss everything together. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve this pulao hot!!

Spicy Sorakkai Pulav (Spicy Bottle Gourd Pulav)

Spicy Sorakkai Pulav (Spicy Bottle Gourd Pulav)

As we all know, Bottle Gourd is a very healthy vegetable. It refreshes us during summer, helps to treat urinary disorders, great for weight loss and prevents heart diseases. 

 Even though its healthy, i feel  little difficult  to eat that less spicy and tasteless sorakkai . On my own innovation,   tried this spicy sorakkai pulav.. It was awesome!!!

 I grated bottle gourd. hence we couldn't even pick it out from rice... This is the best way to include healthy Bottle Gourd in the healthy and tasty way.. Recipe Follows!!!

Ingredients: (Recipe for 2)

Cinnamon Sticks                                        - 1

Cloves                                                        - 1

Star Aniseeds                                             - 1

Cloves                                                        - 1

Green cardamom                                       - 1

Briyani rice ( Seeraga Samba rice)            - 1 cup

Bottle Gourd                                               - 1/2 of medium size Bottle Gourd  (Sorakkai) 

Big onion  (cut lengthwise)                         - 2  ( medium size)

Chopped Ginger  (cut lengthwise)               - 2 tsp  

Chopped Garlic  (cut lengthwise)               - 2 tsp  

Turmeric powder                                        - a pinch

Chilli Powder                                              - 2 tsp

Cumin Powder                                            - 1 tsp

Coriander Powder                                       - 1 tsp

Garam Masala Powder                               - 1 tsp

Fresh Coriander leaves                              - a handful

Fresh Mint leaves                                       - a handful

Oil                                                               -  3 tsp

Ghee                                                           - 1 tsp

Water                                                          - 2 cups

Salt                                                             - as required

Procedure:

1.  Wash the rice , empty all water and keep it aside
2. Grate Bottle Gourd.
3. Heat 1 tsp of oil in a cooker.
4. Add rice to it. saute for some time. You can see rice getting dry. That is the perfect time to switch off the flame. This is done to prevent the rice getting sticky.
5. Take out the rice 
6. Add remaining oil + ghee and add cloves, aniseeds,cloves, cardamom and cinnamon sticks.
7. Then add onions, ginger and garlic
8. Once onions become translucent add grated bottle gourd.
9. Saute well.. Add in all the powders including salt.
10. After 3-5 minutes, add  rice and 2 cups of water
11. Add coriander and mint leaves and cook the pulav for 1 whistle..
12. Mix pulav well.  Be careful while mixing up briyani. Make it a perfect round when you are mixing up the briyani otherwise you might end up breaking the rice.
13. Serve it with Onion Raita and Pappad..
14. Enjoy your Pulav!!!

Quick Tips:

• You can also use Basmathi rice or even normal ponni rice. I used Basmathi rice only..