Vegetable Pulao (Rice Pilaf with Vegetables)

4 servings

Ingredients:

Basmati rice - 2 cups
Vegetable broth/stock or water - 2 cups
Onions - 1 medium diced
Tomatoes - 1/3 cup crushed
Potatoes - 2 medium chopped into bite sized pieces
Mushrooms - 1/4 cup chopped
Bell peppers - 1/4 cup chopped
Peas - 1/4 cup
Chickpeas - 1/2 cup from a can (no liquid)
Salt - to taste
Coriander seed - 1 Tsp
Cumin - 1 Tsp ground
Cayenne pepper - 1/2 Tsp
Oil - 1/4 cup

Directions:

- Rinse the rice in water several times. Soak it in enough water to cover for about 15 minutes while you chop up the vegetables. Drain the rice just before you start to cook. The drained liquid can be used in place of the stock or broth - make sure there are at least two cups of it.
- Get the oil hot in the pan. Throw in the onions, and the cumin, coriander, and pepper. Fry for about a minute.
- Put in the mushrooms, bell peppers, and potatoes. Fry for 2 minutes.
- Put in the rice, and stir to coat it with the spices and oil. Fry for 2 minutes or so.
- Put in the tomatoes and chickpeas. Fry for 2 minutes.
- Put in the vegetable broth/stock/water. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes with the pan lid on. Resist the urge to peek at the rice to see how it's doing.
- At the end of 10 minutes, turn the heat off and let the rice sit in the pan with the lid on for about 5 minutes.
- Fluff with a fork (carefully), and serve hot with raita, or your favorite curry.

Posted by Waqas