Vegetable and Lentil Pulao
by Tarla Dalal
A concoction of rice, dal, mixed veggies, saffron and fried onions, is layered with a rich gravy made with onion paste, and baked in an oven. This is a relatively easy-to-make main course, but the effect is grand because baking creates a ‘dum’ effect in the vegetable and lentil pulao.
Vegetable and Lentil Pulao recipe - How to make Vegetable and Lentil Pulao
Soaking time: 30 minutes Preparation Time: Cooking Time: Baking Time: 20 to 25 minutes Baking Temperature: 180ºC (360ºF) Total Time:
Makes 6 servings
For The Rice-dal Mixture
1 1/4 cups rice (chawal) soaked for 30 minutes and drained
3/4 cup toovar (arhar) dal
1/2 cup thinly sliced deep-fried onions
3/4 cup chopped and boiled mixed vegetables (french beans , carrots and green peas)
2 pinches saffron (kesar) strands dissolved in 2 tsp of milk
salt to taste
For The Curry
2 tbsp ghee
1 cup whisked fresh curds (dahi)
1 tsp sugar
salt to taste
To Be Ground Into A Smooth Onion Paste (using A Little Water)
1/2 cup roughly chopped onions
2 tbsp grated fresh coconut
4 whole dry kashmiri red chillies , broken into pieces
25 mm (1”) piece ginger (adrak)
4 garlic (lehsun) cloves
1 tbsp poppy seeds (khus-khus)
2 cardamoms
2 tsp coriander (dhania) seeds
1 tsp roasted cumin seeds (jeera)
Other Ingredients
2 tsp ghee for greasing
2 tbsp milk
1/2 cup deep-fried onions
For Serving
fresh curd
Method
For the rice-dal mixture
For the curry
How to proceed
For the rice-dal mixture
- For the rice-dal mixture
- Boil the rice. Each grain of the cooked rice should be separate. Drain and keep aside.
- Combine the dal and 1½ cups of water in a deep non-stick kadhai and cook on a medium flame for 10 to 15 minutes or till the dal is cooked. Keep aside.
- Combine the rice, dal, mixed vegetables, fried onions, saffron-milk mixture and salt in a bowl and mix well.
- Divide the rice-dal mixture into 2 equal portions and keep aside.
For the curry
- For the curry
- Heat the ghee in a broad non-stick pan, add the prepared onion paste and cook on a medium flame for 2 to 3 minutes, while stirring occasionally.
- Remove from the flame, add the curds, sugar and salt and mix well. Keep aside.
How to proceed
- How to proceed
- Grease a microwave safe baking bowl with ghee, put 1 portion of the rice-dal mixture and spread it evenly using the back of a spoon.
- Pour the prepared curry and spread it evenly.
- Finally put all the remaining rice-dal mixture and spread it evenly.
- Pour the milk over it, cover with a lid and bake in a pre-heated oven at 180ºc (360ºf) for 15 to 20 minutes or microwave on high for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Just before serving, turn upside down on a big serving plate.
- Serve immediately with fresh curds.
Outbrain
The vegetables in this recipe have a nice crunchy texture , the dal and rice is just cooked perfect.A lovely,tangy curd mixture, makes the pulao more tasty.