Methi Pulao

Methi pulao is a favorite rice recipe among all of us. You can also make it for dinner or lunch, as it serves like a wholesome meal!! This New Year we almost settled to have a brunch, mom made rice pundi, and I switched myself making Methi pulao and Aloo palak. Please find the aloo palak recipe; which I have already posted before.

2 1/2 Cup Basmati Rice/ Sonamasuri Rice [Soak for 10-15 mins, this helps the rice to cook sooner]

Ingredients:
2 medium Onions (chopped)
3 garlic flakes finely chopped
2 small bunch of methi (fenugreek) leaves (chopped)
2 tomatoes (chopped)
Salt to taste
2-3 tbsp oil
2 tbsp Ghee
Spices:
Garam masala powder 1tbsp
Chat masala powder 1tbsp
Cinnamon bark small 1"
4-5 cloves
1 star anise
1/2 tbsp turmaric powder
1 tbsp cumin seed
1 tbsp pepper powder

For green paste:
4-5 flakes of garlic
1' ginger piece
2-3 green chilies
1 cup coriander leaves
1 small chopped onions

Grind the above ingredients to fine paste.

Method:

• Wash methi properly and drain the water, chop finely and keep aside.
• Heat oil in the a cooker and add Cinnamon, cloves, star anise, cumin; fry till you smell the aroma of spices, add garlic and fry till light brown.

• Now add chopped onions, turmeric powder fry till onions are transparent.

•  Add tomatoes fry for 3 mins, add carrot,  Green paste, salt, red chili powder (option), garam masala powder and  methi leaves. Stir-fry for 8-10 minutes.

• Add rice and fry well for another 5 minutes.

• Add enough water (1 cup rice, 2 cup water), check if salt needed and pressure cook on low flame for 5 minutes. After 1 whistle remove the cooker.

•  Add pepper powder (choice), chat masala powder, ghee and mix the contents well.

• Garnish with chopped coriender leaves.
• Serve the methi pulao hot with raita/ kurma/ palak dish.[I made Aloo Palak]

Methi pulao along Aloo palak  and Rice pundi

It was a wonderful brunch for us on New Year Day on Sunday!!