Monday, November 24, 2008

Kashmiri Pulao - A colorful gourmet


I don't know how many of you are like me, but I'm happy to be a late-night person rather than an early morning person. Yes, I really am. Early mornings are just too arduous for me. I feel that I can rule the world during late nights, but never in the morning. I get so much work done during late nights - it could be either office work, or some planning for house-hold stuffs or even my favorite blogging! I can go on working while the whole world is sleeping. I feel so calm and peaceful when the house is quiet with zero distractions. Even if I am up early (sometimes I do out of necessity), I end up being so busy that I hardly get any quiet time without upheaval. This may sound ridiculous, but I've to tell that I even postpone somethings to late night though I may have some time during the day, because I know I can certainly do that same task better in the night.

Conversely, my husband is an early morning person. He gets up before the sun rises (god knows what he does that early) and takes off to work showing up 15 mins early everyday. I wonder how people do that. I've seen people waking up in the dark, jog around in the neighborhood, scaring the birds. They continue to amaze me. He says I'm lazy when he tries to wake me up early and I'm reluctant to do so, and I tell him he's lazy when he literally yawns every minute at 7 pm :) We know that we both are not lazy or crazy, but just don't fit in the same time zone.

Well, with that been said, today ironically I'm posting this recipe early in the morning :) Not that I've changed suddenly, but it all happened by itself. Its 6.30 am on a working day. My daughter is still sleeping. Before she gets ready for school, I felt like giving her some more time to sleep as she had a rough night because of her stuffy nose. I woke up seeing a snowy morning today! Its absolutely refreshing to watch those flurries through our windows, and the white snow covering our patio tables, chairs and the little plants in our patio! Its also intimidating to see a snowfall in November which is unusual in my area. But that didn't stop me from enjoying its beauty. In the next few mins, I settled down with a hot cup of coffee and my laptop to draft this post.

Ok, with just a few mins left for my morning routine to start, let me jump to the recipe now. I made this tasty, colorful dish over the weekend. I found it in my treasure book - the collection of recipes that mom had written for me when I got married. I made this for the first time and I still don't know how I missed this incredibly simple yet flavorful rice dish for so many years. The fresh fruits are a great addition and gives a fresh and rich taste to the rice. We all loved it and had a wonderful dinner enjoying this with Paneer Makhani.

This goes for SriValli's Rice Mela.
Ingredients:
  • Basmati Rice - 2 cups
  • Saffron - 1 pinch
  • Onion - 1 medium (chopped)
  • G. chillies - 4 small
  • Cashews - 20 pieces
  • Raisins - as needed
  • Green Peas - 1/2 cup
  • Black or Brown seedless grapes - 1/2 cup (chopped)
  • Pomegranate seeds - 3 tbsps
  • Cinnamon - half inch pieces - 2
  • Cloves - 3
  • Cardamom - 1
  • Ghee/oil - 3 tbsps
Procedure:
  • Cook the Basmati rice and spread it in a large plate or any flat surface to avoid sticking.
  • Cook the mixed vegetables of your choice (avoid potatoes) separately and set aside. I used only green peas and microwaved it.
  • In a large wok, heat ghee/oil fry the cashews and raisins and remove them to a plate retaining the oil.
  • In the same oil, season with cinnamon, cloves and cardamom.
  • When they pop, add onions, g.chillies and saute for a few mins until onions become soft.
  • Now add the cooked vegetables, saute for a few more mins.
  • Add cooked rice, saffron, salt and mix well gently for 5 mins. Finally add the fresh fruits, half of the roasted cashews and raisins and mix well. The original recipes says to add 2 - 3 tbsps of cream at this point to make it rich. I didn't, but it still came out perfect.
  • Turn off heat and transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with the remaining cashews and raisins.
Its definitely a party food, as it has more color as well as flavor and practically goes with any curry!

39 comments:

Uma said...

I am a night person too! Most of your qualities match with mine! I always wonder how people wake up that early in the morning by ruining the beautiful sleep! Coming to the pulao, it is definitely a great one. looks so rich and delicious.

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

what a pretty picture.. anyone would feel like having it just by seeing the picture.. and thanks for congratulating me.. yeah will make some sweet soon... have to look at your dessert collection. :)

Mahimaa's kitchen said...

I am very much a night person.. i can stay awake late in the night but can't wake up early. i hate to wake up early... I am super fresh at night that i have a hard time falling asleep :(

ST said...

Looks very colourful ,tempting and delicious...

Deepthi Shankar said...

that looks sooo colorful .. I seriously wanna try this .. a feast for the eyes

Purva Desai said...

Join the gang :) with me and my hubby its opposite, I am an early bird and he is a late Owl......
Kashmiri pulao looks perfect, really colourful and I am sure the aroma of the same must have filled ur humble abode

TNL said...

I'm neither a night or a morning person.....I am somewhere in between.. :)

Your rice looks beautiful....I love the colors!

trupti
the spice who loved me

Ramya Vijaykumar said...

I am a night person too, I get up so late that I sometimes dont get to make breakfast too... Now a days I make it a point to wake up early but this season is again my worst enemy... Pulav look awesome, rich and yummy...

lubnakarim06 said...

Wow kashmiri pulao looks yummy. Dry fruits bring out the awesome flavour in the recipe. Thanks for sharing.

Uj said...

Yey! I am a night person too.. though I dont mind waking up early.. but as routine would love to sleep late! Pulao looks amazing!! Very nice pics to tempt

Malar Gandhi said...

I am a night person too...while I was studying. I can't say that anymore...now adjusted to this busy morning hours. Btn....love this pilaf so much. Mommy used to add beet cuts and preserved cherries too....simply great!

Cham said...

I am a morning person.
The pom is like a jewel over ur rice. Just awesome the picture !

CurryLeaf said...

I am a night person too.I too wonder how people get up very early everyday and what they do.I get up very early if it is very important..
Perfect pulao.I also saw it in another blog and surely and strongly tempted to make it.Lovely and scrumptious along with Makhani

Finla said...

I am laughing out loud hear, reading scaring the birds remark.
I am a night person too.
But i do get up early morning, well my early morning mean on school days 7:25 that is not early is it ?
Pulao looks delicious

Usha said...

The pulao looks awesome and seems really simple...in my home it is the same as yours I am a night person and my husband is an early riser...so I completely empathize with your post :-)

Unknown said...

Sujatha, I loved reading ur post and the pulao looks so festive and colorful.

Gita Jaishankar said...

I am also not a morning person. I feel so lazy sometimes in the mornings, so I finish all my cleaning or any other chores at night so I can wake up late, lazy me :) The pulav looks so colorful and yummy...

Anonymous said...

Sujatha...

Pulao ..Looks yummy.. I think i must try this ..My husb and son will love this
thanks for the recipe
love
veena

Jaishree Iyer said...

Kashmiri pulao looks awesome... very colourful ,tempting and delicious...

Vibaas said...

Looks so tempting. the pic looks too good.

Pavani said...

thanku very much sujatha for visting my blog..u too have a wonderful blog..
pulao looks yummy n colurful...

Cilantro said...

I am with you... I can stay awakefor a long time and asyou said I have all the peaceful time with no distractions. My husband is an early morning person so even if I happen to get up early, I will not find time of my own.
Well written and a nice colorful gourmet Pulao.

raaji said...

vowwwww sujatha the rice is so tempting me to try this...hey i have all the ingredients,lots of fruits for this..gonna try this weekend.......

Laavanya said...

So, between your husband & you.. you have quite a wide coverage :D

That bowl of rice is just too pretty.. i don't know if I'd have the heart to dig in & eat... You are right - that's perfect party food.

Unknown said...

That pulao has me drolling!Gorgeous pic.I can stay up all night if I have to but I can never get up early.

Sujatha said...

It was nice to read all of your comments and was surprised to know that most of you are like me :) Now I have a good reason to convince my husband that its ok to be a night owl ;)

Hope you all had a great thanksgiving!

vandana rajesh said...

This pulao looks awesome. Lovely pic...want to already have a spoon of this delicious looking rice. I am a night person too and get a lot done then and just like urs my hubby too is a morning man.I can relate really well to ur post.

Premyscakes said...

Hi i just enjoy reading your blog, i love the pulao, just now iam trying your baby corn deep fry which i bookmarked it a week ago. carry on. catch u later.

Sujatha said...

Hello Prema! Welcome to my Blog.. and thanks for your nice words.. Hope you enjoyed the baby corn pakoras :)

Sunshinemom said...

I used to be a morning person - used to wake up at 4:30a.m. and go for walks, jogs (that was funny - I never scared the birds:)). Of late I am getting into my husband's mould, staying late up and waking up late, and I don't like it!! I find early mornings refreshing, I like looking at the sun as it rises and I love it when I am able to bake in the mornings, all of which I miss because I have got this habit of rising late:( This post I think will change that:)

Coming to the Pulao - this is my favourite classic with malai kofta on the side, and yours looks terrific, dear!

Andhra Flavors said...

love kashmiri pulav. nice recipe.

Srivalli said...

Thats so colourful indeed!..thanks

Karthika said...

Hi Sujatha,

Been reading your blog for a while....I have to appreciate the time you take to write such nice posts with lucid steps and pictures. I tried this pulao and it came out awesome, just want to thank you for the wonderful recipe.

I have a question though - where do you get baby corn? I haven't seen them at my grocery or farmers market.

- Karthika

Sujatha said...

Hello Karthika! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving such nice words about my blog.. They mean a lot to me..

I usually buy baby corns from a chinese grocery store in my area. They have fresh baby corns.. If you don't have a chinese grocery store in your area, you can also buy canned baby corns - this you'll find in any grocery stores under Asian sections or even canned vegetable sections.. Just strain the water and wash them thoroughly before using.. best of luck in your search!

Pavithra Kodical said...

First time visiting your blog..Nice blog..Kashmiri pulao looks delicious..

Neha said...

didn't read the recipe or the post , but just looking at the pic, felt like jumping in n eating it....Yummy...

Sanghi said...

Amazing colour and delight!

shri said...

I relate to your interests. I am not a morning person either. And like you I enjoy cooking anytime of day. Thanks for sharing lovely pics.

Nargis Aara said...

me and my do majority of our works in night only!! night seems to be much comfy than day to do any work lolz, Night has its special place in our lives. This recipe is amazing!! Im loving ur blog :) Following u now!! hope u visit my blog sometime :)