Pulao or Pilaf lover ? Here is delicious twist to your normal pilaf rice that you get from your favourite restaurants. This Pilaf rice has god lovely garlic flavours topped with goodness of Turmeric. To make this pilaf further full of taste, I have added cardamoms, star anise and then the richness offered by Cashews and Raisins. A perfect party pleaser and easy to whip up.
Table of contents
What is Pilaf
Pilaf or Pulao or Pilav is usually used as synonym for one pot rice dish. Usually emphasis is on using basmati rice for pulao. This rice cooked with spices or stock is referred as Pulao. There are numerous varieties of pulao/ pilaf, however, can categories broadly into two categories i.e. vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Veg pulao contains vegetables, or paneer, or soya chunks or all of these. An exotic version of veg pulao is navratan pulao. On the other hand, non-veg pulao usually will contain, chicken or lamb or beef. Chicken version is popular by miles, one such version is Yakhni Pulao.
Ingredient for Turmeric Garlic Pilaf
As the name very much suggests, this pilaf rice has garlic and turmeric in it, however, I have taken liberty to use few other taste enhancing ingredients, such as black and green cardamom. I have added green peas too. Likewise, have used star anise and bayleaves.
Garlic
I have used garlic because it gives that lovely flavour to rice. Garlic is full of goodness, hence is one of my “goto” ingredients. Garlic has barely any calories and contains manganese, Vitamin B6 and C. It also improves cholesterol level too.
Turmeric Powder
Turmeric has ruled Indian cooking for ages. Much like garlic, turmeric has medicinal value and have been known for its richness in phytonutrients.
Rice
I will insist on using basmati rice for this recipe. Basmati rice offers aromatic fragrance and the long grain of rice makes rice look super delicious.
Easy method to make pilaf rice
- First of all, wash and soak rice in enough water for minimum 30 minutes.
- Boil 5 Cup of water in a big pan and add soaked rice to them.
- Add turmeric powder, star anise seeds, Black peppercorn, cloves, cinnamon stick, green and black cardamom, 1 teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoon of oil to it. Gently stir and let the rice boil for 5-7 minutes.
- Check the rice, if they are almost cooked, switch off the heat and drain the rice in a colander. Let them sit for 5 minutes.
- Heat a pan over medium heat and add rest 2 tablespoon oil to it. Once warm enough, add cumin seeds, bay leaves and stir. Add sliced garlic and onion to it and saute till they are golden in colour. Add Cashews and saute again.
- Now add peas and saute again. Cover the pan with lid and let peas cook for 3-4 minutes. Add raisins and saute again. Add rest of salt and mix well.
- Now add cooked rice and mix them well. Cover the pan again and let rice steam for 3-4 minutes.
- Switch off the heat and serve the rice hot. Enjoy….
Pro Tips
- Soaking rice is an important step to yield fluffy and long grain pilaf, hence will strongly advice to soak rice.
- Shall you wish to include more green, you can add other vegetable of your choice too like carrot, broccoli etc.
- Do the rice cook check – always smash one grain of rice in between your thumb and finger to check the doneness of rice. If it smashes easily that means they are fully cooked.
Why to make turmeric garlic pilaf rice
- Making pilaf is super easy and does not need you to have master chef certificate.
- You can choose veg or non-version, however, here this turmeric garlic pilaf rice is pure vegetarian.
- If you exclude soaking time of rice, it takes merely 25 mins to make this pilaf
- This can act as main dish or sit humbly on the side as side dish.
Recipe card
Turmeric Garlic Pilaf
Ingredients
- 2 cup Basmati Rice
- 1 Onion Large, thinly sliced
- 6-7 Garlic sliced/chopped
- 1/2 cup Green Peas
- 10-12 Cashews
- 10-12 Raisins
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds
- 2 Bay leaves
- 2 Star Anise seed
- 1 inch Cinnamon stick
- 2-3 Cloves
- 2 Black cardamom
- 2 Green Cardamom
- 5-6 Black Peppercorn
- 2 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 2 tsp Salt
- 4 tbsp Oil
Instructions
- First of all, wash and soak rice in enough water for minimum 30 minutes.
- Boil 5 Cup of water in a big pan and add soaked rice to them.
- Add turmeric powder, star anise seeds, Black peppercorn, cloves, cinnamon stick, green and black cardamom, 1 teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoon of oil to it. Gently stir and let the rice boil for 5-7 minutes.
- Check the rice, if they are almost cooked, switch off the heat and drain the rice in a colander. Let them sit for 5 minutes.
- Heat a pan over medium heat and add rest 2 tablespoon oil to it. Once warm enough, add cumin seeds, bay leaves and stir. Add sliced garlic and onion to it and saute till they are golden in colour. Add Cashews and saute again.
- Now add peas and saute again. Cover the pan with lid and let peas cook for 3-4 minutes. Add raisins and saute again. Add rest of salt and mix well.
- Now add cooked rice and mix them well. Cover the pan again and let rice steam for 3-4 minutes.
- Switch off the heat and serve the rice hot. Enjoy….
Video
Notes
- Soaking rice is an important step to yield fluffy and long grain pilaf, so don’t skip it.
- You can add other vegetable of your choice too like carrot, broccoli etc.
- Always smash one grain of rice in between your thumb and finger to check the doneness of rice. If it smashes easily that means they are fully cooked.
Nutrition