Friday 15 October 2010

Simple Vegetable Pulao/Pilaf


Here is another simple rice preparation that I made recently. Easy to put together and tastes divine. Recently I was watching Master chef program where the contestants had to prepare pulao and none of the participants go it right! Some were undercooked, some were chewy and some were soft outside and crunchy inside. Most of the mistakes would have occured as they were preparing it under pressurised circumstances and the nerves would have just got better of them. Anyways, preparing rice is one of the easiest thing to do if the instructions are clearly followed, and something that can be messed up easily if not prepared appropriately as well. It can be intimidating to many and it can take quite a few trials to get it right. But you will get there one day.


My initial attempts of rice making were a disappointment to see as well as eat. My first rice used to be cakey, something that could b easily cut into shapes. Sometimes it took the other edge being like porridge or a soup. Sometimes undercooked and sometimes overdone. Nothing seemed so hard than preparing rice. I am not talking about the complex biriyani or pilaf here, it’s just the plain rice. Oh, it was a hard time. It took me umpteen trials to perfect it. But once you get the hang of it, it is just a piece of cake.

What I learnt from all these years experience is that while cooking rice, heat adjustment is one of most significant factor. It should be adjusted at the right time. Then comes the water quantity. Water quantity slightly differs depending on if you have soaked the rice prior to cooking or if you are using rice right out of the packet (Well, you have to wash before using). You can use lot of water to cook, and then drain rice once they are cooked, or add just enough water for the rice to cook in without having water to be drained. Rice can be cooked in number of ways; every one would have their own means of cooking. But this is one method that I come back to all the time, as it gives me just the right outcome, just the way I want it. Soft, fluffy and each grains separated. Just follow simple steps, do the flame adjustment properly, if you don’t get it right for the first couple of times, you sure will get it right quick. Believe me, this method would be one of the easiest way to cook rice once u get the hang of it.


Simple Vegetable Pulao/Pilaf
Serves 3-4

Ingredients:
2 cups Basmati Rice
3 cups boiling water
Salt to taste
1 large carrot finely chopped (3/4 cup, 120g)
½ cup frozen peas, thawed
¼ cup onion finely chopped (optional)

Whole spices:
2 whole black cardamoms
2 bay leaves
4 cloves
3 small pieces (1” long) cinnamon stick
¾ teaspoon cumin seeds
4 Tablespoon clarified butter (Ghee)


Preparation:

1.Wash rice and soak it for about ½ hour - 1 hour. Place a wide, non-stick saucepan on low-medium heat and add ghee. When ghee has melted, add whole spices and sauté for 30-40 seconds or until it leaves aroma.

2. Increase the heat to medium and add vegetables and sauté for 3 minutes stirring frequently.

3. Add drained rice to these vegetables and sauté for further 3 minutes.

4. Add boiling water and required amount of salt and stir well. At this point of time, it is important to turn the heat up to high. Keep the pan open and cook until you see NO water floating in the bottom of the pan when you part rice with a ladle. Make sure rice doesn’t get really dry here as it needs moisture to get it cooked. As soon as you see no water is left in the pan, reduce heat, cover the pan tight to hold in all steam and cook on very low heat for 10-15 minutes or until rice is perfectly cooked. Once it is completely done, toss rice with a spatula once or twice to avoid rice grains sticking to each other.

Serve hot with any spicy curries.

Notes:

You can use your own choice of vegetables here, including green beans, cauliflower etc..

22 comments:

divya said...

Looks awesome.....u r making me hungry...

Nitha said...

Delicious rice.. I ve never got correct while cooking rice this way.. So I always end up using my rice cooker..

Ms.Chitchat said...

Perfect pulao,click is too good.

Dori said...

Simple can be so wonderful, looks good!

archana said...

Even simple stuff look great in your photos. You are right, cooking rice is a matter of following a method precisely,and i suck big time at it except for Basmati.Second from last photo is my fav.

Suhaina said...

looks super yummy.. wonderful clicks... super... keep up the good work.. u r rocking.

Suji said...

Veggie pulav looks simple awesome...

Unknown said...

Tempting pulav....mild and flavourful exactly my kind...looks perfect with rice seperated

Pushpa said...

Veggie Pulao looks delicious...Yum!

Pushpa @ simplehomefood.com

Priya Suresh said...

Droolworthy pulao, looks absolutely marvellous, very elegant clicks..

Umm Mymoonah said...

Beautiful presentation, rice looks very delicious.

My Kitchen Antics said...

shab im still so bad at making the perfect rice..ethra recipe nokkiyalum i suck at it :(
i am loving the 1st pic a lot...

Suja Manoj said...

Making me hungry..perfect pulao looks awesome

Veggie Belly said...

nice pic; looks like you had ample lighting. was this taken in the evening like you mentioned earlier?

Satya said...

delicious pilaf dear ...ur wonderful clicks makes me hungry

Satya
http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

Bergamot said...

the pulao looks really tempting, each grain separated... and I must say that making such a pulao is an art which you have mastered

Unknown said...

Your pulao looks fantastic shabs, especially the colorful veggie makes me feel cooler :-)

cpc said...

Hi Shab,

Thank u so much for this!! I have tried making pulao so many times, but as u said always the rice is overcooked or undercooked or even burnt! I made this today , followed the exact instructions and it cae out so well. it looked as good as ur pics! COuldnt believe it. Thankl u very much for explaining so well about it!

Shabs.. said...

@Chaitra....:)thanks....Now u can also master rthe art of making any rice with this method, perfectly:)

Anonymous said...

hi can u plz send me the recipe of arabic biriyani

Anonymous said...

hi can u plz send me the recipe of arabic biriyani

? said...

Shabs , was just going through all your rice dishes. This is such a simple recipe but the flavours would be amazing.
I use a slightly different technique for cooking the rice.

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