Vegetable Palav | Karnataka Style Vegetable Pulao

Vegetable Palav is made for this month's "Shh Cooking Secretly" event. This month's theme is Karnataka Cuisine. I am paired with Sujata Roy who gave me rice and coconut as my secret ingredients. The first thing that came in my mind when I got the ingredients was this pulao. I gave Sujata, chana dal and ghee and she made a mouth watering sweet dish - Hayagreeva.

In Karnataka, Pulao is often referred to as Palav. It is an easy to make one-pot meal with rice, vegetables and few spices. It is usually made with Sona Masoori rice. Adding coconut while making the masala paste enhances the taste and I strongly recommend you don't skip it.

Do try this easy, healthy and delicious rice dish.

Serves - 2

Ingredients:

1. Rice (sona masoori) - 1 cup
2. Onion - 1 no.
3. Tomato - 1 no.
4. Green peas - 1/2 cup
5. Carrots diced - 1/2 cup
6. Green peas - 1/2 cup
7. Potatoes diced - 1/2 cup
8. Coconut - 1/2 cup
9. Bay leaves - 2
10. Cardamom - 2
11. Cloves - 5-6
12. Cinnamon - 1 inch
13. Star anise - 1
14. Ginger - 1 inch
15. Garlic - 5-7 cloves
16. Coriander leaves - 1/2 cup + little more for garnishing
17. Mint leaves/Pudina - 1/2 cup
18. Green chilies - 2 or as per your spice level
19. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
20. Lemon juice - 1 tsp
21. Oil - 2 tbsp
22. Salt to taste

Method:
1. Take a mixer-grinder and grind the following ingredients into a fine paste:

•  Ginger
• Garlic
• Coriander leaves
• Pudina
• Coconut
• Green chilies 

2. Take a pressure cooker and heat 2 tbsp of oil. To hot oil add bay leaves, cardamom, cloves, star anise and cinnamon and saute for a minute.

3. Add the sliced onion, turmeric powder and 1/2 tsp salt. Saute until onions turn translucent. 

4. Add the ground paste and fry until oil separates. 

5. Add the diced tomatoes, cut vegetables, lemon juice and give it a good mix.

6. Add 2 cups of water and check for the salt and add it if required.

7. Finally add washed rice and cook for 2 whistles. 

Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve hot palav with raitha. 

Sujata Roy blogs at "Batter Up With Sujata". Do check out her blog for a good collection of recipes.