Peas Soya Pulao

A piping hot, comforting bowl of this protein-rich vegetarian green pulao carries the quiet love of home cooking- a family recipe passed down, where nourishment and nostalgia come together in every spoonful.

Ingredients:

Basmati rice 2 cups (150mL each)

1 medium onion- finely chopped

1 medium tomato- chopped

¼ inch ginger- peeled and chopped

1 carrot- finely chopped

6 cloves of peeled garlic, chopped

100g beans, chopped

200g green peas- peeled

4 stalks of coriander leaves

4 stalks of pudina leaves

2 green chillies

½ cup of soya chunks

2 cardamoms

2 cloves

1 small bay leaf

2 tbsp oil

4-5 cashew nuts, finely chopped

Salt as per taste

Method:

First soak ½ cup of soya chunks in water for half an hour. Once done, remove the soya chunks and squeeze out all the water. Chop the chunks into small pieces. After this, heat 1 tablespoon of oil on a pan and add the chopped soya chunks. Sauté them for 5 minutes. Then, keep them aside.

Keep your ingredients ready for blending- take one finely chopped tomato, ¼ inch of peeled and chopped ginger, 6 peeled and chopped garlic cloves and 2 chopped green chillies.

Blend them for 3-4 minutes. Once blended, add 4 stalks of pudina leaves and 4 stalks of coriander leaves to this mixture and blend lightly again.

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil on a pan and add one finely chopped onion and sauté. To this, add 2 crushed cardamoms, 2 cloves, and one small cinnamon bay leaf.

Once the onions turn golden brown, add the blended green mix and sauté until oil begins to separate from the masala.

Grease the bottom of the electric cooker with 1 teaspoon of oil. Wash 2 cups of Basmati rice and add into the cooker after draining the water. Add 4 cups of water and let it rest for 15 minutes in the cooker.

Keep your vegetables ready- 100g of peeled peas, 100g of chopped beans and one finely chopped carrot. Add these directly into the cooker.

After this, add the sautéed soya chunks to the cooker. Then, add the sauteed masala and mix well. Add salt to taste- the salt in the water should be adequate for your taste.

Place the lid over the cooker and wait for your rich green pulao to be ready.

Also, roast 5-6 chopped cashew nuts in ½ tablespoon of oil and garnish it over the pulao once cooked.

Meanwhile, prepare some raita with curd, tomato, onion, pudina and salt to taste.

Serve and enjoy hot, along with raita.

By Dr Aiswarya Sasi