First let me wish all my friends “A Very Happy New Year”! Sorry I have arrived in my usual susegad manner but better late than never!!
For the New Year as it is our practice I ran away from Panaji, Goa. This time we friends met at Pachgani.
We had a fabulous time first visiting the Raigad fort, where we met a guide who was obsessed with toilets!! He showed us the attached toilets that Chatrapati Shivaji’s six wives who stayed on the fort had. Can you imagine the toilet seat is still intact and you can see how well it was designed for all the exits! His ministers who ran all the 8 forts that Chatrapati Shivaji reigned over had attached toilets too!
Hmmm I am also talking about toilets now!
Chatrapati
Chatrapati Shivaji had a big bath tub in his quarters!
But jokes apart the king was a visionary where else will you have a fort built, the stone quarried from the site itself so that there is a lake formed and you are self sufficient in water. For the coronation you need to have an elephant ride after the ceremony but since you cannot get an elephant to come up on the mountain he bought an elephant calf and groomed it. The climb to the fort is steep about 1500 steps and they are ‘deed pauli’ that is 1 ½ step each.
I refused to use the stairs imagine using about 1500 steps! Whew the thought was enough to break me in cold sweat. I told my friends that I was using the ropeway and will go down with all their bags.
Then from there we had a gala time in Pachgani thanks to Anju and her family.
But more about it later when I compile all the pics and make a write up on our trip.
Coming to today’s recipe that I made some time ago…
My elder daughter had her college picnic and I was instructed, yes instructed that she wanted just pulao.
My instructions did not end there I was told that it should be mildly spiced and should not be ‘pachak’ which is her way of saying she wants it a bit of red chili powder in it.
Now since I had made peas & tofu pulao just for the night before I really had a problem. How do I make something that
does not taste like last night’s dinner?
does not taste like last night’s dinner?
Not left with much choice I decided to use cooked rice this time. As I did not have shahi biryani masala I decided to
innovate and was amazed when we all liked the taste.
innovate and was amazed when we all liked the taste.
This is just to list out what I did so that I can use it as needed.
Ingredients:
2 cups basmati rice cooked
2 tblspn ghee
1 tsp jeera
1/2 tsp coriander seed
1/4 tsp sauf
3 cloves
4 pepper
1 stick cinnamon
1 elichi
1/2 tsp shahi jeera
1/2 tsp mace
1tsp chili powder
2 tsp ginger garlic paste
2 onions, chopped fine
2 cups peas
1/2 cup cauliflower
1 capsicum,sliced
1/2 cup carrots (I did not use)
Salt
Coriander to garnish
Method:
1. The earlier night I cooked the rice in the cooker 1 whistle
2. Dry roast then grind shahi jeera, coriander seeds, cloves, pepper, cinnamon, elichi & sauf, mace till you get a
nice aroma. (Next time try roasting them individually). The yield is about 2 tblspn.
nice aroma. (Next time try roasting them individually). The yield is about 2 tblspn.
3. In the morning heat ghee in a pan add all the jeera, till it changes colour now add the ground masala about 1
tsp.
tsp.
4. Add the onions and fry till translucent, fry the ginger garlic paste.
5. Add the vegetables and sauté them with a little salt and chili powder. Cover and cook till the vegetables
are tender. I added the capsicum just before the rice.
are tender. I added the capsicum just before the rice.
6. Add the cooked and fluffed rice. Mix well.
7. Switch off the gas. Keep the pan covered.
8. Garnish with coriander.
Sending to Radhika’s Cooking with Rice
HLI-Peas hosted by Veena started by Kalyani
Archana
Aarthi says
very flavourful pulav
divya says
super tempting dish tempts me a lot,mouthwatering here..wishing you and your family happy new year 2012.
Sravs says
Nice and delicious pulao !!
Ongoing Event – CC-Chocolate Fest
Julie says
Flavorful pulao !!
wishing you a happy 2012 !!
Erivum Puliyum
Radhika says
LoL on your write up Archana. But glad that you had a great holiday. Wishing you a Happy New year as well. Thanks for linking this lovely pulao to the event. I'm sure the flavor would have been awesome.
Kaveri says
Nice to know that you had a good time at Panchgani.
A flavorful and aromatic rice
Gayathri NG says
Pulao looks tempting n colorful dear…
Wish u happy new year!!
Prathibha says
very delicious pulao…looks nice
La @ FoodSlice says
Wow Archana, you made the biryani masala from scratch so your daughter could have a delicious meal. Thats really commendable. I have never tried to make my own masala powder till now, too intimidated that the husband won't like it. I should get over it sometime and remember your pulao success. Hope your cold is gone soon.
Priya says
Super flavourful one pot meal,inviting.
Sensible Vegetarian says
Looks so good.
Mythreyi says
Nice story on Shivaji's luxuries in those days…. will wait for your detail post .. Pulavo looks very nice..
-Mythreyi
Yum! Yum! Yum!
Now Serving says
That looks so delicious Arch, I could eat off the post!
Happy new year to you and am glad you had a great visit to panchgani and raigad 🙂 will catch up more soon. still in a jet-lag daze!!!
love,
priya
Amy says
pulau looks tasty & innovative way of prearing…Hope you enjoyed your New Year visits & interesting post…
Wish you a Very Happy New Year!!
Shanthi says
Looks awesome and perfect
Archana says
Thank you all of you. Love you gals.
Priya says
Archana, for ur q'n regarding the dulce de leche, yep the can should be submerged in water, in case if there is less water,dont forget to fill it..
Maayeka says
nice,flavourful and perfectly done pulav
Archana says
Thanks Priya your answer was most useful. Thanks Maayeka
Sandhya Hariharan says
Wishing you and your family , A very Happy New Year….
Soper tempting pulav..
Cheers
Sandhya's Kitchen
saffronstreaks says
loved to read that you had a great time at Panchgani, its truly a charming place. pulao is steaming up with so much flavour..
Jay says
Wishing you & yours a fantastic 2012 too archana..
lovely post abt pachgani…wanna visit soon..
pulav sounds lipsmacking..;P
Tasty Appetite