Veggie Pulav

INGREDIENTS

1. Basmati Rice - 1 cup
2. Cut Vegetables - 2 to 3 cups (carrots, potato, cauliflower, peas, beans, cabbage, etc) - use all or any of the listed veggies
3. Oil - 2 tbsp
4. Bay leaf - 1
5. Haldi/ Turmeric Pwd - 1/4th tsp
   
6. Salt to taste
   

FOR MASALA (grind all together)

1. Onion - 1 medium size
2. Green chilli - 2
3. Garlic - 2 cloves
4. Ginger - 1/2 inch
   
5. Corriander leaves - half cup
   
6. Cinnamon / dalchini - 1" piece
7. Lavang / Clove - 4

METHOD

In a pan heat the oil add the bay leaf after a few seconds add the ground masala paste and fry till the raw smell of onion disappears.

Add the vegetables and shallow fry in the paste for 5 mins.

Now add the rice and 2 cups of water, haldi powder and salt & mix well.

After this you can either cook this on slow fire till the rice is done... or put this in a pressure cooker till the rice is cooked...

This serves 2 to 3 people... Serve hot with raita

VARIATIONS

1. In the masala you could add pudina/ mint leaves
   
2. In the masala instead of coriander you could add tomato
3. Instead of oil you could use ghee / clarified butter.
4. Sangeeta, a friend of mine added few bread pieces fried in Ghee for garnish... she says it came out great!