Tawa Pulao

My daughter Neti turned 5 on 24th Feb! We are hosting a Glow party in our house basement for few family friends this Saturday. I am bored of catering buffet of Indian food like we did for Ariv's 1st and 5th and Neti's 1st!!! For kids, we are having Glow craft activity and face paint painting followed by cake cutting and pizza, juice, chips, ice cream dinner. For the parents, I am making the favorite street food- Pav Bhaji, Chola - aloo chaat and Tawa Pulao, raita!!!

During my college days, remember eating Tawa pulao in Pune on JM road and FC road in all of the restaurants! I came up with my own recipe below.

Ingredients:

4 cup Basmati Rice

1 red pepper

1 green pepper

1 carrots

1 cup cauliflower

1 cup peas

2 Onion - cut fine long slices

1 Potato

4 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp Biryani Pulao Masala (Shaan)

1 tsp Pav Bhaji Masala

Salt to taste

Method:

1. Wash the rice 2-3 times. In a bowl, soak in water leaving upto 1 inch above the rice. Leave for 20 minutes.

2, Cut all veggies in same size small square format.

3. In a pan, heat 4 tbsp vegetable oil, add the onions and fry till golden brown. Add potato, and saute. Add the peppers and saute.

4. Steam the carrot, cauliflower and peas separately.

5. Now add the veggies to the pan. Add masala. Turn off heat and set aside.

6. In another pot, get 8 cups water and let it boil. Add 2 tsp salt. Then add the soaked rice. Add 2 tbsp homemade ghee. Add couple bay leaves, star anise and 4-5 peppercorns. Cover with lid. Let cook for 20 minutes. Turn off heat. Let stand 10 minutes,

7. Now add rice to the veggies lightly and toss with fork.

8. Serve hot.

Enjoy!