Hara Pulao & Raita

Hara Pulao is a vegetable rice dish cooked with spicy mint puree. The fresh spices add an amazing flavour to the pulao. For vegan alternative use oil instead of ghee in pulao and vegan yoghurt for raita.

Serves: 4
Cooking Time: 30 to 45 minutes

Ingredients

Pulao

• 1.5 cups of rice
• 3.5 cups of water to cook (change quantity of water based on your rice)
• 1/2 cup potato chopped
• 1/4th cup of carrot chopped
• 1/4th cup of beans chopped
• 1/4th cup of green peas
• 12 to 15 mint leaves
• 2 to 3 green chillies
• 2 tablespoon ghee
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 cloves
• 3 to 4 green cardamon
• 5 to 6 cashew nuts
• salt to taste

Raita

• 2 cups of yoghurt
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of finely peeled and chopped cucumber
• 1/2 cup of finely chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 teaspoon black salt
• 1/2 teaspoon roasted cumin seed powder
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional)
• 1 teaspoon of chopped coriander
• salt to taste

Procedure

Pulao

• Note: I have used a rice cooker to cook the rice, you can cook the rice directly too.
• In a blender, blend mint leaves and green chillies. Add a few tablespoons of water as required. Keep aside.
• Start cooking the rice in a rice cooker or pot.
• In the meanwhile, take a pan and add ghee to it.
• Once the ghee has melted add the mustard seeds and let them crackle.
• Once it is done, add the cumin seeds and let them crackle.
• Add the bay leaves, cloves, green cardamom and cashew nuts. Stir for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the prepared mint puree to this and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the potatoes, carrot, beans and peas to this. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes.
• Add these sautéd vegetables and salt to taste to the rice still cooking in the rice cooker or pot.
• Once the rice and vegetables are done, the pulao is ready.

Raita

• In a mixing bowl, add the yoghurt and water and whisk until smooth.
• Add the cucumbers, tomatoes, black salt, roasted cumin seed powder, sugar, salt if required and chopped coriander.
• Mix well and serve with hot pulao.