Peas make me go hmmmnnn…
I love peas! No, I mean I LOVVVEEE peas - always have, and hopefully, always will. I go through a 2 lb bag of frozen peas every 2-3 weeks.
With the cold weather creeping up so steadily, I find that my cravings for rice has increased tremendously. Maybe its the comfort that comes from a big bowl of warm rice, I really don’t know. So its no surprize that I find myself cooking more varieties of rice-based dishes in winters as compared to warmer months.
Often, I make a big batch of plain rice over the weekend, and spruce it up during the week. Of the many variations of rice dishes I make from (purposely) left-over rice, some of my all-time easy-breezy favourites can be seen here, here and here.
When I decided to make dinner last night, I knew I would once again be cooking what else, but rice. So I settled for a recipe that was simple and so delicious - Pulao or as some call it, Pilaf. Pulao is very common in the North Indian cuisine. It is often served as a side to exotic curries and salads.
So that was it then, I was craving for Pulao. But not just any Pulao, I wanted Peas Pulao!
Matar Pulao (Peas Pilaf)
Ingredients:
2 cups Basmati rice 1 cup frozen peas 4 cups water 1 small onion, thinly sliced 5-6 cloves 5-6 black peppercorns 1-2 bay leaves 1 tsp cumin seeds salt, to taste a pinch of saffron, mixed in 2 tbsp water 1 tbsp cooking oil Method:
- Heat oil in a non-stick pan and saute cumin seeds and sliced onions, till tender and slightly browned.
- Add rice, water, salt, peppercorns, cloves, and bay leaves, and cover cook on medium-low heat till rice is tender.
- Add in peas and saffron water and cover cook for another 5-6 minutes till peas heat through.
Best eaten warm with any curry or on its own!
January 20th, 2006 14:33
I’m going to buy some basmati rice. I’d like to have this for dinner!
I like your new banner and tag line, but I sorta miss the peppers.
But everything looks GREAT! I love how you always improve this site.
Have a good weekend,
Paz
January 20th, 2006 14:55
wow looks delicious, how did u manage to get that color in the pilaf is it coz of the saffron?
January 21st, 2006 07:50
Hi Meenakshi, Not exactly my first time here, but definitely the first comment if i recall correctly.
First up, congrats on the Award win.
Second, great to see that the list of recipes have gone up since I visited last. Have been a regular at Nupur’s blog for quite some time now. And will surely try all your goodies here. Staying alone, bachelor, I am always in lookout for good and easy Indian recipes - prefer veggies more when it comes to cooking. Thankfully, after a year and a half of self-coooking I have learnt a few basics, which i m sure will help when i try out the great stuff here.
Already, I hv just finished making a variety of ur Matar Paneer. Since I didnt hv paneer, so did a variation and made ‘alu mattar’ with same method. Turned out great
And ur ‘alu tamatarwale’ looks so tempting - esp since it is very easy to make. I do keep making ‘jeera aaalu’ as a sort of ‘filler food’ when I am not in mood for cooking
Will keep coming in and asking/disturbing as and when I dont understand or need some variation (As i said, i stay alone and hv a bit of limited resources sometimes :-))
January 21st, 2006 07:51
One query - what is aniseed? Hindi name?
January 22nd, 2006 03:23
Sorry for nearly spamming your blog but honestly am too excited to find it. Earlier I have tried almost everything on Nupur’s blog, and now i hv found a new haunt for myself.
So today’s Sunday lunch is ‘chick-peas’ curry from ur post
Just tasted it , its turned out marvellous.
And as a side dish, i m gonna make ‘alu tamatarwale’ - too tempting to resist making it further on…aaj ekdum mood hai cooking ka
Many many thanks for the wonderful dishes!
January 23rd, 2006 14:35
Your new look is fab! I really like it and yes, I have a weakness for rice too.
January 26th, 2006 23:46
Paz: Thanks Paz! I like this coulore combo too. Do try out the recipe, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it.
Priya: Hi Priya! Yup, it is certainly due to the saffron. It gives amazing colour as well as flavour and aroma! Just awesome!
Deepak: Thanks for stopping by Deepak! Do try out all the recipes and let me know how they turn out.
Aniseed is called “Saunf” in Hindi.
MM: Thanks M!
June 17th, 2007 13:44
HI just came across ur site and loved the recipes i tried ur egg curries and they came out great just wanted to say thank you u do make cooking easy
sree