Peas Pulav

Kids generally like one pot meals. And mothers like to make them as its easy cooking than making Sambhar, Rasam and rice along with a side dish. I personally feel one pot meals help a lot to conserve time, energy and Gas ( which is in high demand these days ).  Yes, I can see some heads nod. 

So today's recipe is a simple Peas Pulav, without any fancy ingredient or spices. Very simple meal that uses the ingredients available in your pantry and can be made in a jiffy.

Ingredients 

Basmati Rice - 1 cup ( soaked for 20 mins in 1.5 cups of water )

Green Peas - 1 cup

Green Chili - 2 slit 

Mint and Coriander leaves - 1/2 cup

Onions - 1/2 cup ( sliced )

Spices - cardamom, clove and saunf

Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 tbsp

Salt to taste

Oil as required

Method 

In a small pressure cooker, add a little oil

When the oil is hot, add the spices along with sliced onions

Add the mint and coriander leaves and saute well

I love the aroma at this stage of cooking

When the onions are done, add the ginger garlic paste and saute again 

Add the slit green chilies and green peas

Saute well and add salt

Now add the basmati rice along with the water in which it has been soaked 

Let the water boil for a minute, before you close it and cook for 2 whistles.

Serve hot with papad and curd or raitha

Two points that needs to be noted 

Water to cook basmati rice is 1: 1.5

From the second whistle the flame should be low to ensure that the rice does not burn at the bottom

This Easy breezy meal, is being served at Blogging Marathon  and at  Kid Delight : Potluck

Day 4 - Blogging Marathon - Peas Paneer Pulao

Yes Yes , I managed to post for 4 days in a row. This recipe is something close to my heart.I love the aroma of green peas in any rice. Every time I go to the market I definitely get them and try to incorporate them in some way in the cooking. Be it kichadi or any veggie subzi or curry, green peas will find its way. So much that if my dad sees green peas in any dish, he will immediately ask .. did you prepare this.

I just love them. I saw Divya's post on how to store (freeze) fresh green peas and felt happy that there are many people who love green peas like me. Be it a normal alu curry or even a cabbage curry, a handful of fresh peas definitely adds to the flavor and appeals to the eyes of the person who is gonna eat it. Add it to the salad you make your protein potion for the day is fulfilled. Plain boiled basmati rice along with a small amount of spice will not be appealing , just throw in some green peas, the color combination of fresh green against creamish white color of basmati rice will be loved by your cameras. My camera loves these yummy delectable combinations.

I somehow feel that the color combination of food that you serve is as important as the taste of the food. This reminds me , I have my cousin sister in law visiting us on Sunday along with her kids. I have the menu planned for them. Will post them along with the recipes after the marathon is done with.
Moving on to the day's recipe.. Its Peas Paneer Pulao. I prefer to call it like that rather than Paneer Peas pulao for reasons you know why.
Here are the ingredients that make this dish a yummy one.

• Basmati Rice - 2 cups
• Fresh green peas - 1 cup
• Paneer pieces - 8 - 10
• Green chillies - 2 ( slit length wise )
• Onion - 1 cut into thin slices
• Capsicum - 1 cut into think strips ( optional )
• Cloves, bayleaf, cinnamon stick, star anise ( as suited to individual taste) I prefer to have a mild flavor of spices
• Oil
• Salt to taste
• Cashew nuts and Raisins for garnishing ( optional )

So how do we make this recipe, follow the steps below and you will be left with your kitchen smelling good with its aroma

• Wash the basmati rice and let it soak for 10 mins
• Heat oil in a heavy bottom wok and add the spices listed
• Cook for a minutes time then add the sliced onions and capsicum
• Add the green peas and the rice along with the required water. Ratio for Basmati Rice is 1:1.5 ( add a little more for the veggies that you add)
• Bring the whole mixture to a boil and close it with a lid.
• Now transfer this to a electric cooker and switch it on
• In 15- 20 mins the peas paneer Pulao will be ready
• Serve it hot with some gravy and /or raitha

You can use the same method to make mixed veggie rice also. The picture here shows the finished dish in the electric cooker container. I was not able to take pictures after that.

Okay, time to go on a trail to my fellow runners kitchen, wanna come along..
Azeema, Bhagi, Champa, Gayathri Anand, Gayathri Kumar, Harini, Jay, Meena, Mina, Padma, Pavani, PJ, Priya Mahadevan, Priya Suresh, Priya Vasu, Rujuta, Santosh, Saraswathi, Savitha, Shanavi, Smitha, Sowmya, Suma, Usha, Veena