Matar Pulao – Home Cooking

Step 1: Prepare Rice

Take 1 cup of long-grain basmati rice in a bowl. Pour enough water to cover the rice, wash it a couple of times, and then soak it for about 30 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare Green Chilli Paste

In a small grinder, add 2 green chilies, a piece of ginger, and 4 cloves of garlic. Pulse a few times to make a coarse paste.

Step 3: Heat Ghee and Oil

To a pressure cooker, add 1 1/2 tablespoons of ghee and 2 tablespoons of oil. Heat it on medium flame.

Step 4: Add Whole Spices

Once the ghee and oil are hot, add 1 bay leaf, a piece of cinnamon, 2-3 green cardamoms, 2-3 cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon of cumin seeds. Sauté for a few seconds until fragrant.

Step 5: Sauté Onions and Green Chilies

Add 2 large thinly sliced onions and 2 slit green chilies. Sauté until the onions turn transparent.

Step 6: Add Ground Paste

Add the ground ginger, garlic, and green chili paste to the cooker. Sauté for about a minute until the raw smell disappears.

Step 7: Add Green Peas and Salt

Add 200 gms of fresh green peas and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Step 8: Add Soaked Rice

After 5 minutes, add the soaked basmati rice (drained). Gently mix the rice along with the peas and other ingredients for 2 minutes.

Step 9: Add Coconut Milk and Mint Leaves

Pour in 1 1/4 cup of diluted coconut milk (or water, if preferred). Add a few mint leaves (optional) for extra flavor. Gently mix everything together.

Step 10: Pressure Cook

Close the pressure cooker with its lid. Once steam starts to escape, place the weight on the lid and pressure cook for 1 whistle on medium flame.

Step 11: Serve Matar Pulao

Once the pressure is naturally released from the cooker, open the lid. The Matar Pulao is done and the rice should be cooked beautifully. Serve hot.

• Soaking basmati rice for 30 minutes helps achieve perfectly cooked, fluffy grains.

• Adjust the quantity of green chilies to suit your spice preference.

• If you prefer, you can use regular water instead of coconut milk for a different flavor profile.

• Cooking in a pressure cooker for one whistle on medium flame ensures even cooking and saves time.

• Replace coconut milk with an equal amount of water for a lighter pulao.

• Add other vegetables like carrots or potatoes for a mixed vegetable pulao.