There are many ways to prepare a vegetable pulao. I have taken an easy route here - No grinding/powdering involved. Just chop some veggies, add the whole spices and shop bought garam masala for flavor. And an yummy pulao is ready. Can things get easier than this ?
For vegetable pulao,
Basmatic rice - 1 cup
A handful of sprouted peas. You can use fresh/dried ones too.If you are using dried ones, soak them for 6 hrs.
Cubed mixed vegetables - 1 cup (Use any veggies of your choice)
onion -1
ghee/oil- 2 tblspn
crushed cloves- 3 nos
cinnamon - 1 stick
cardamom - 2 pods
turmeric - a pinch
green chilly(slit) - 3 nos
garam masala - 1 tspn
salt
Wash and soak rice for 30 minutes in 2 cups of water.
In a microwave safe bowl, MW oil/ghee for 30 secs at high power. Add the spices - cinnamon, cloves and cardamom and MW for 2 minutes by stirring once in between.
MW for a minute after adding chopped onions. Add the peas, vegetables and rice along with the soaked water. Add a pinch of turmeric, salt and garam masala. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Stir in between.
Allow to stand for 5 minutes for it to cook completely. Adjust the cooking time according to your oven.
If you want, you can heat a teaspoon of ghee and add half teaspoon of garam masala and mix to the cooked pulao for more flavor
Malai kofta is made fully in MW. So no deep frying the koftas required.
For koftas
grated paneer - 100 gms
Big potato - 1
1/2 tspn corn flour
green chillies - 3 nos (chopped)
chopped coriander - 1 tbspn
chat masala powder - 1/2 tspn
salt and pepper to taste
For gravy
onion paste from 2 onions
tomato puree- 1 cup
ginger-garlic paste - 1 tbspn
ghee- 1 tbspn
garam masala - 1/2 tspn
cornflour - 1 tsp
salt,black pepper and red chilli powder to taste
For garnish
Fresh cream and chopped coriander leaves - 1 tbspn each
Preparing koftas
Cook the potato in MW for 5 minutes. Don't forget to prick on the potato with a fork before you cook.
Mash paneer, boiled potato and corn flour. Mix the rest of the ingredients and make a smooth dough. Form into small balls and shape them. Place in MW safe flat dish and MW at high power for 2 min. Reposition the koftas more than once.
Preparing gravy
In a MW safe bowl, MW ghee for 30 secs. Add onion,ginger-garlic paste and MW at high power for 4 min.
Add tomato puree, garam masala, salt, black pepper and red chilli powder for 4 mins.
Mix cornflour in little water with out any lumps. Stir into the gravy. Add one cup of water. Cover and cook for 4 mins
Add kofta and MW for one min. Garnish with coriander and fresh cream
Yummy malai kofta is ready. Using non- deep fried koftas did not make much of a difference.
Vegetable pulao and malai kofta is joining the potluck at Srivalli's.
