Vegetable Pulao

I joined back work after a long leave of almost a year and a half. I spent quality time with my baby and now I'm back at work. Every single day has been a whirlwind of activity as one can imagine. But I'm blessed in more ways than one and I'm ever so grateful for that!

That's the reason I haven't posted in the last two months. Today I share a very simple yet delicious recipe. As a mum, all recipes first need to pass the nutrition and vegetable test. How many veggies can I sneak in and get away? With this recipe, many. And that's the beauty.

So let's begin...

Ingredients:

1. Rice - 250 gms
2. Onion - 1 medium
3. Tomato - 1 medium
4. Carrots - 1 medium
5. French Beans - 8 nos
6. Green Peas - 1/4 of teacup
7. Oil - 2 tbsp
8. Salt to taste

Spice Mix:

1. Peppercorn - 6 nos
2. Cloves - 2 nos
3. Cinnamon - 2 inch stick
4. Cardamom - 2 nos
5. Bay leaves - 2 nos
6. Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon

Chicken or Vegetable Stock - 500ml
Or Stock cubes - 1 no & Water - 500 ml

Method:

1. Wash and soak rice.
2. Slice onions and tomatoes. Cut french beans and carrots into one inch pieces.
3. Heat oil in a pan and add the whole spice mix. Fry for 30 seconds and then add onions.Add salt sparingly, since the stock will be salty.
4. Let it fry for about two minutes while stirring it constantly. Add the tomatoes and stir well.
5. Fry for about two minutes and then add the vegetables and the turmeric powder. Fry for about two minutes.
6. Add the stock and bring to a boil.
7. If not using stock, add water and the stock cube and bring to a boil.
8. Add the rice and stir. Let it come to a boil. Lower the flame and let it  cook for 5-6 minutes.
9. When the stock is reduced, check for salt. The stock should taste a little salty and the grain of rice should be about 3/4th cooked. 
10. Put off the gas flame in 2 minutes after you've closed the lid. So that the steam is locked and the cooking process can continue.
11. Serve after you've let it rest for 20 minutes.

Notes:

1. You can also add and additional 100 ml of stock or water to make it a little wettish for the kids. :-)
2. The picture I added is of another time I cooked the pulao. You can add vegetable of your choice. Sharing the list I commonly use in my pulao : carrots, green peas, sweet corn, french beans, broccoli, cauliflower.