Veg pulao with Coconut milk

Ingredients :

* 2 1/2 cup Basmati

* 2 Onions (long slices)
* 2 Big Tomatoes
* 15-20 Beans (cut into 1 inch pieces)
* 2-3 Carrots (cut into pieces)
* 1 1/2 cup Cauliflower
* 1 cup Peas
* 1 tbsp Mint leaves (chopped)
* 1 tbsp Coriander leaves
* 1/3 cup Oil
* 2 Bay leaves
* 1 inch Cinnamon stick
* 4 Cloves
* 1 1/2 tsp Kasuri methi (dry Fenugreek leaves)
* 3 Marathi Moggu (chaluva miriyalu or tokamiriyalu)
* 1 Star Anise
* 3 Cardamom
* 1 1/2 cup Coconut milk
* Salt to taste
Grind the following ingredients into a thick paste:

* 20-22 Green Chilies

* 1 hand full of Mint (Pudina) leaves

* 1 hand full of coriander (Cilantro) leaves

* 1 inch cinnamon stick

* 6 Cloves

* 1/2 tsp Peppercorn

* 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

* 2 tbsp Dhania (Coriander) powder

* 1/2 medium sized Onion

* 4 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste

Method

First wash and soak the Basmati rice for 10 to 15 minutes.

 Take a pressure cooker or deep pan. Add oil and when it is hot add Bay leaves, Cinnamon stick, Cloves, Kasuri methi, Marathi Moggu, Star Anise and Cardamom.

 After a minute or so add onion and sauté for 3 minutes.

Then put all the vegetables and 1 tsp salt. Cook for 6 minutes.

Add tomatoes and cook them till they are mushy or pulpy.

 Then put the paste that was prepared earlier and mix well.

 Cover and cook on simmer till oil separates.

 Add coconut milk and 2 cups of water required for the rice to be cooked.

When the contents come to a boil. Taste the liquid and add salt if required.

Now add rice, mint leaves and coriander leaves.

 Close the lid and cook till you hear 1 whistle (pressure release) if your using a pressure cooker. If you are using a deep pan then cook till most of the water dries up.

You will know the rice is done when you press a grain between your thumb and index finger and it squishes completely. And you are done!

Serve piping hot with tomato,carrot, onion and cucumber raita

TIP: If you don’t have canned coconut milk you can prepare it yourself. Grate one coconut. In a blender grind the grated coconut with one cup of lukewarm water for a few minutes. Then strain through a fine sieve to get the coconut milk.