Matar Pulao | Peas Pilaf

Pulao is one such dish that can make any occasion grand or just keep it simple, perfect for a party, simple get-together, for a lazy weekend lunch or for lunch box and the fact that it's a one pot meal only makes it more appealing, don't you think so?

Matar Pulao or Peas Pulao and Jeera Rice are the rice recipe that I do the most as these are most simple, delicious, fast and goes well with chole, any curry or even a simple raitha, making our life less complicated.   And then like most of the recipes there are plenty of ways of making this peas pulao too, you can add the below spices or skip anything if you don't like.  Some people like to add fried cashews but then I prefer to keep it simple and original.   I normally do it in pressure or rice cooker rather than using cooked rice and frying it afterwards ofcourse it has it's own taste, no denial in that but then for me it's one pot meal. 

Serves - 2

Ingredients:

Basmati/Long Grained Rice - 1 Cup

Matar/Green Peas - 1/2 Cup

Ghee/Oil - 1 tbsp

Shahjeera/Caraway Seeds - 1/2 tsp [or cumin seeds]

Bay Leaf - 1

Cinnamon - 1" pieces

Green Cardamom - 2

Cloves - 2

Star Anise -1

Onion - 1 medium

Water - 2 Cups

Salt - to taste

Cilantro Chopped - 2 tbsp [optional]

Green Grape - 8-10 [optional]

Method:

1. Wash and soak rice for 15-20 minutes.  Meanwhile Shell peas if using fresh or thaw it if using frozen, slice peeled onion and keep aside.

~ If you soak basmati rice for longer time it tends to break.

2. In a pan or wok heat ghee/oil, add bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, star anise and shahjeera saute for 30 seconds.

3. Add sliced onion and saute until transparent, don't let it change colour otherwise pulao colour will change.

4. Add peas and saute for 2 minutes, now add rice mix gently and  saute for a minute.

5. Add salt, water and stir gently.  You can transfer everything to a rice cooker and let it cook like I did.

~ If you going to use pan then let water come to boil, reduced heat, close pan with lid and cook until water absorbed or rice is cooked, stir gently in intervals.

You can also add some green grapes (if too big halve it), but the grapes should not be sour or too sweet.  Long back when I was kid I saw grapes in matar pulao in one birthday party, it was tasty, different and thus stuck in my mind until now and I try to add grape some times.

And this easy pulao goes  to Lubna's Joy from fasting to feasting IV.

Have a nice day ~~