Tawa Pulao

Preparing the rice: Rinse the rice grains till the water runs clear of starch. rinsing for a while, you will   come to a stage when the water will become transparent during the rinse. if there is starch in the water, then the rice becomes sticky.

Soak the rice in enough water for 20-30 mins. drain and then add the rice to a pot. Pour 4 cups water in the rice. add salt and few drops of oil. Stir, cover and cook the rice till the rice grains are cooked well.

The rice grains should be separate also cooked well. If the water begins to froth pushing the lid, then remove the lid or partly cover the pot with lid and cook the rice.

Don't cook the rice too much or make them mushy. this will spoil the texture of the pulao. In a strainer, add the cooked rice and let all the water drain away. Gently fluff the rice with a fork.

Once all the steam has passed from the rice, cover the rice with a lid so that the rice grains on top don't dry out. Let the rice cool and you can proceed with the rest of the recipe.

For the tawa masala: Steam the carrot and green peas till all of them are cooked well in a steamer, pan or pressure cooker. Chop the carrot.Keep aside.

In a pan or kadai/wok melt the butter. add the cumin and fry them till they get browned. Add the finely chopped onions and saute till translucent. Add the ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw aroma goes away.

Then add the finely chopped tomatoes and capsicum/bell pepper. Stir and add all the spice powders - turmeric, red chili powder and pav bhaji masala. Stir again and saute the whole mixture till you see butter releasing from the sides.

Add the chopped, carrot and peas. sprinkle salt and stir. Add the cooked basmati rice and gently mix the veggies with the rice. Garnish with coriander leaves and sprinkle some lemon juice on the tava pulao.

Serve tava pulao hot with onion tomato raita or cucumber raita or plain yogurt accompanied with papad and pickle.