Planning lunches for my husband everyday is a task in itself. Although he is very non fussy, it becomes important to fix a lunch with servings of vegetables, protein, fruits etc, which needs to be easily prepared and filling, nutritious and tasty, interesting and non repetitive. This basic Pulav can be made even with left over rice, as long as its not cooked too mushy. Many times, when I have a lot of leftover rice from the morning, or basmati rice which is too much for a single serving, I put away a little in an air tight container to make my quick fix pulav with whatever vegetables I have in the pantry. The best thing about this is that, depending on the veggies, the taste of the pulav also varies, so It almost makes you feel its a different delicacy.
This morning, I had frozen peas, and some onions so this is what I used to make this rice dish.
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup cooked Basmati Rice.
Frozen Peas.
1/2 of a Red Onion or one regular sized onion sliced long.
6-7 mint leaves chopped.
Chopped cilantro.
A pinch of ground cinnamon clove powder.
Seasoning:
Jeera/Shahjeera, Bay Leaf, Cashews, Star Anise.
PREPARATION:
- If preparing rice for the pulav, cook the rice with a spoon of coconut milk and a bay leaf.
- Take a kadai and add 2 spoons of ghee in it. Add a bay leaf, star anise and shah jeera/ jeera and then the cashew.
- In a couple of seconds add the cinnamon-clove powder and the sliced onions.
- Saute them till the onions begin to sweat. Add the peas and salt and saute again.
- Now add the chopped cilantro and the chopped mint leaves and mix well.
- After a few more minutes switch off the gas and add the cooked rice and salt.
- Mix well until the ghee/oil is coated on the rice.
- Serve with Aloo Dum , Paneer Butter Masala or Cucumber Raitha.
HINT:
- Substitute the same recipe to include cauliflower and peas, capsicum and carrots, carrot and peas, beans, carrots and peas etc.
- You can add a pinch of garam masala but the cinnamon clove powder, and the chopped mint provide the aroma and flavour that`s needed.
- In case the side is just raitha, you can add more garam masala. When the side is a heavy masala gravy like Aloo Dum etc, keep the rice simple.
- For a wholesome lunch box, pack with a side of grapes/strawberries and a kosumbhari salad.
Anubhavati -Tastes from my kitchen 
Looks delicious….nice pic
hi shoba,
Lovely snap, loved the jars 🙂 and the pulao looks so perfect with the peas so bright! love such quick fixes 🙂
thanks
TC
Thumbs up!! You’ve given extra options to go with the pulav…loved it.
Lata
Nice quick recipe with thoughtful tips, Shoba. I completely agree with your opening statement.
Regards,
gayu
Pulav looks inviting 🙂
Hello Shobha…pulao looks very simple and delicious…. lovely click too…. thanks for visiting my blog and leaving your comments… do visit more… me too will add yours in my blogroll 🙂
what is shahjeera?
Shah jeera is somph….its just another name…
Shobha
I too make almost the same way and call it ‘Lazy peas pulao’…:)..frozen peas and basmathi- more than enough for that mild flavoured classic combo!…
Will try your method this saturday..(the-day-for-variety-rice since kids at home !!:) )
Went through both your methods for preparing the outer covering(which I always flaw)for modakams..planning to try your versions soon..:)..
BTW- I havent tried Injipuli/puli inji so far, for myself..have come cross recipes here.. http://keralamela.blogspot.com/2007/02/chutneys-and-chammandis.html
Thank you for stopping by my blog, Shobha. nice, simple recipe for a wholesome pulao.
Looks delicious Shoba, thanks for giving suggestions for my dinner tonight:))
Lakshmi
Simple and delicious pulao! Perfect for lunchbox.
@ Bharathy, Thank you for your comments.
@ Divya, It`s a great and easy and tasty pulav.
@ Lakshmi, did u try it yesterday.
Shobha
Pulav looks very welcoming.. Simple and easy, yet very flavorful.
very nice and simple
Wow!!
http://susricreations.blogspot.com
Cool Recipe. Will try this out 🙂
Thanks
Hi Shoba, I also make something similar 🙂 … nice blog and nice breakfast menu ….