Horse Gram & Brown Rice Veg. Pulao

 

         Check out this healthy and an amazing veg. pulao prepared with Horse Gram and Brown Rice. It is a one pot meal that can be enjoyed with some raita and papad as an accompaniment. The recipe is very simple, easy and takes very little time to dish out. Except for the fact that both the lentils and the brown rice needs to be soaked overnight. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

          Horse Gram Lentil (Kulthi / Kollu / Ulavalu) is not too familiar and the name itself may not sound appealing to the ears. But this humble lentil contains an amazing number of nutritional benefits. 

          It is a rich source of protein, calcium, iron, fibre and is also low in fat, relieves constipation and is diabetic friendly. It can also be sprouted and made into salads and soups. 

           Brown rice on the other hand is much better than white rice as it is unpolished and has a lot of fibre content. So this dish is a healthy combo of Horse Gram and Brown Rice. 

• 1/4 cup Horse Gram Lentil, soaked overnight
• 1/2 cup Brown rice, soaked overnight
• 2 tbsp. ghee
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 dry red chilies
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1" ginger, sliced
• 2-3 garlic cloves, sliced
• 2 green chilies, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. coriander powder
• 1 tsp. cumin powder
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• 1 & 1/2 cups chopped mixed veggies (beans, carrot, cauliflower & green peas)
• salt to taste
• handful of coriander & mint leaves, chopped
• 8-10 roasted cashew nuts
• 1 & 1/2 cup hot water
• coriander leaves to garnish 

          Heat ghee and oil in a pressure cooker. Temper with bay leaves, dry red chilies and cumin seeds. Sauté for a few seconds. 

          Add the onion, ginger, garlic and green chilies. Stir fry till light brown. 

          Now add the tomatoes and all the dry spices (except salt). Mix everything well and cook well till the tomatoes are slightly mashed.

          Add the chopped veggies and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Then add the soaked lentils and rice. Give it a stir and continue to sauté for 2-3 minutes. 

          Add the chopped mint-coriander leaves, roasted cashew nuts and salt, followed by hot water.

          Stir well to combine everything well and pressure cook for 2-3 minutes on a low to medium flame. 

          Keep aside for 15 minutes before opening the lid. Fluff it up with a fork and serve with raita and papad as an accompaniment.

Heat ghee & oil in a pressure cooker. Temper with bay leaves, dry red chilies & cumin seeds. Sauté for a few seconds. 

         Add onion, ginger, garlic & green chilies. Stir fry till light brown. 

             Now add the tomatoes & all the dry spices (except salt). 

       Mix everything well & cook well till the tomatoes are slightly mashed.

                   Add the chopped veggies & sauté for 2-3 minutes. 

 

Add the soaked lentils & rice. Give it a stir & continue to sauté for 2-3 minutes. 

      Add the chopped mint-coriander leaves, roasted cashew nuts & salt, 

           followed by hot water. Stir well to combine everything well.

Pressure cook for 2-3 minutes on a low to medium flame. Keep aside for 15 minutes before opening the lid. Then fluff it up with a fork.

                   Serve with raita and papad as an accompaniment.

Veg. Pulao

        Veg. Pulao is a one pot comfort meal with the goodness of some mixed veggies. Just some raita, any side dish (opt) and papad is all that need to enjoy this yummy dish. It is a very easy and a quick recipe when you are in no mood to dish out a full course meal. It is a great satisfying delicacy that can be had for brunch, lunch or as a lunch box meal too. 

          A great substitute for plain steamed rice or jeera rice, it is mildly flavoured with whole garam masala (including mace and nutmeg) along with some homemade garam masala powder and some chopped coriander-mint leaves.

          I have added some chopped nuts and fried onions too, for some crunch. It is purely optional. So do give it a try when you want a simple no-fuss meal and enjoy with your loved ones. 

• 1 cup Basmati rice, soaked for 30 minutes and drained
• 1 & 1/2 cups hot water
• 1 cup mixed veggies, chopped (beans, cauliflower, peas, carrots)
• 2-3 tbsp. ghee
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds 
• 2 bay leaves
• 2-3 green cardamoms 
• 1" cinnamon stick 
• 4-5 cloves
• 1/2 mace
• pinch of nutmeg powder
• salt to taste 
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• handful of coriander-mint leaves, chopped
• 1-2 green chilies, slit
• 1 tbsp. chopped almonds & pistachios
• 1 tbsp. coriander leaves
• 1 tbsp. fried onions (opt)

          Heat ghee in a pan and temper with cumin seeds, bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves and mace. Sauté for a few seconds. 

          Add the chopped veggies and all the dry spices. Sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add the drained rice and mint-coriander leaves. Continue to stir fry for 2 more minutes.

         Add water and green chilies. Pressure cook for 2 whistles. Switch off the flame and allow it to rest for awhile before opening the lid of the cooker. 

          Garnish with chopped nuts, fried onion and coriander leaves. Serve it hot with raita and some side dish.