Prawn Pulao

I am posting after two weeks of non-stop action. I've just returned home after spending a littIe over two months with my parents-in-law. It was an awesome time considering that I didn't really have to worry about mundane household chores, and other routine things that are normal in any home. Grocery shopping, paying bills, washing, cleaning etc. And David (my little boy) had an amazing time with his grandparents. He was totally pampered and spoilt by his doting grandparents.

After coming back home I wanted to indulge in something comforting and delicious and easy to cook. Prawns pulao was an obvious choice for all the reasons mentioned in the sentence before. I learnt this recipe from my elder sister - Anita, who is a fab cook. She can turn the most boring  and mundane foods like khichdi or dal rice into delicacies. I have no clue how she manages that feat, but her opinion is - years of cooking makes one perfect. Well, that only time will tell in my case, but the prawn pulao recipe I have shared in this post is a must try for all you prawn lovers.

Ingredients:

1. Rice - 1/2 kg
2. Prawns - 1 cup 
3. Cloves - 4 nos
4. Cardamom - 4 nos
5. Cinnamon - 2 sticks of 1 inch each
6. Peppercorn - 10 nos
7. Bay leaves - 2 nos
8. Green chillies - 2 nos
9. Kashmiri chilly powder - 2 tsp
10. Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
11. Coriander pwd - 1 tbsp
12. Cumin seeds - 1/2 tsp
13. Saunf (Aniseed) - 1 tsp
14. Onions - 3 nos (medium)
15. Tomatoes - 3 nos (medium)
16. Corainder leaves - for garnish
17. Soya sauce - 1 tbsp
18. Salt - to taste
19. Oil - as required
20. Water - double the measure of rice

Method:

1. Shell prawns and de-vein them. In a bowl put the prawns, add the soya sauce, and a pinch of turmeric. Mix well and let it marinate till your other ingredients are being readied.
2. Chop onions, tomatoes and chillies and keep them seperately.
3. In a pan, heat oil, add the whole garam masala (whole spices) including saunf and cumin seeds. Let it fry well.
4. Add onions and fry well. When the onions are translucent, add chillies and the marinated prwans, and fry well.
5. Add tomatoes, salt, chilly pwd, turmeric pwd and coriander pwd. Mix well and fry.
6. Add the water, get it to a boil and then add washed rice. Get it to a boil and lower the flame. Check for salt at this stage.
7. Cook till the rice is done and before you put the flame out garnish with coriander leaves.
8. Let the rice stand for atleast 10 minutes before serving.

* Please note: you could also make this preparation in the cooker and take three whistles. The rice becomes soft and wet.
Also you could fry the prawns in a pan seperately before adding it to the onions, specially if your sensitive to the whiff of sea food.

Serve the pulao with cucumber salad.