Namita's Perfect Pulao

After years of begging, Namita's finally sharing her Mom's recipe for Pulao. It was always a hit around the office.


- heat up two tbsp of oil and butter (ghee is best) in pressure cooker
- add 1/2 tsp jeera
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 finely chopped medium/small onion
- pinch of huldee
- cook onions until they are translucent and slightly browned on edges
- wash rice while onions cook
- chop up the following things in small pieces. potatoes can be a little bigger but keep everything else same size
- 1 small potato (i like to use red or white small potatoes)
- 1 tomato (some people don't like tomato b/c they break down a bit and color the rice so it's up to you)
- 1 carrot
- cauliflower (i'm not a huge fan but it was in my mom's recipe so if you like it, add it)
- add all the chopped up veggie and washed frozen peas and saute for a few minutes
- add 1/2 tsp lal mirchi
- add 1 tsp dhania powder
- add water (double the amount of rice)
- add salt and pav bhaji masala (if you don't have it no biggie...add a litlte more lal mirchi and dhania powder). *stir everything and taste the water. it should be salty and spicer than you really want it. not like crazy but it mellows out as it cooks.
- add juice of 1/2 fresh lime
- add rice
- cover and let it cook on high heat for two-three whistles and then turn heat down to med-low for two-three whistles
- let cool completely and make sure all pressure is released before you open it!
- serve with chopped fresh cilantro on top

if you open it and there is too much water, put the cover back on and cook it more - i've had to do that before and it still turns out fine.

when my mom makes it for parties she fries some onions and sautes cashew halves and put it on top with fresh cilantro before serving. it's a yummy addition.

this goes great with cucumber raita

- grate 1/2 to 3/4 cucumber and mix it together with lowfat yogurt
- add salt, a little sugar and fine roasted jeera and pudina powder if you have it

enjoy!