Peas Pulao (Matar Pulao Recipe)

Method9 steps · about 55 min

1. 1

   Step 1: Rinse the 275 g dry aged basmati rice and 160 g peas in separate water, discarding the rinses. Soak the rice for 20–25 minutes while preparing the ingredients, then drain completely and discard the soak water.

   Soak rice · 25 minUses 1½ cups (275 grams) aged basmati rice · 1 to 1¼ cup (160 grams) green peas (/matar, fresh or frozen, rinse & drain well) · separate rice/pea rinsing and rice soaking water;discard

   
2. 2

   Step 2: Choose ordinary-pot, stovetop-pressure or Instant Pot cooking. Heat 2 tbsp ghee or oil, using Sauté for Instant Pot. Fry the optional ten cashews until golden, then remove and reserve. Keep the remaining fat in the pot.

   Uses 2 tablespoons (30 ml) ghee (or oil) · 10 cashews (optional)

3. 3

   Step 3: Add cumin or shahi jeera, cardamoms, cloves (4 to 5), bay leaf (1), optional star anise (1) and mace (1 to 2), and your chosen cinnamon: one ordinary two-inch piece or three two-inch Ceylon pieces. When fragrant, add the optional onion and green chilies (1 to 2).

   Uses onlyremainingfatinsamepot,nofreshdose · ¾ cup (100 grams, 1 medium) onion (optional, sliced) · 1 to 2 green chilies ( (slit, omit for low heat)) · one teaspoon cumin ORseparateshahijeera · 4 to 5 green cardamoms (elaichi) · 4 to 5 cloves · 1 bay leaf · 1 star anise (optional)

   
4. 4

   Step 4: Sauté the onion until golden, about 7–8 minutes on the stovetop or 4–5 minutes on Instant Pot Sauté. Add 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste or the paired ½ tbsp fresh ginger and ½ tbsp fresh garlic. Cook for about 1 minute until aromatic.

   Uses samewhole-spicetemperingandoptionalonion/chili · tablespoonpasteORpairedfreshhalf-tablespoonginger/garlic · halftablespoonfreshgingerONLYpairedalternative · halftablespoonfreshgarlicONLYpairedalternative

   
5. 5

   Step 5: If using mint, sauté its ¼ cup for 1–2 minutes until wilted and aromatic. If choosing coriander instead, reserve its separate ¼ cup for garnish. Add the drained peas and soaked rice from step 1. You may gently fry the rice for about 2 minutes, taking care not to break the grains.

   Uses same160gpeas,rinsedonce · same275gdryriceafterdiscardedwater · samechosenfreshorpasteroute · quartercupmintONLYifnotchoosingcoriandergarnish

   
6. 6

   Step 6: Add the initial ¾ tsp salt and only the water for your cooking method: an initial 2½ cups hot water for an ordinary pot, 2½ cups water for stovetop pressure cooking, or 1¾ cups water for Instant Pot. For Instant Pot, cancel Sauté and scrape the base clean. Taste and adjust with extra salt if needed.

   Uses samecombinedrice/peas/herbs · ¾ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste) · extra salt only ifneededforthechosenricecookingwater · Initial 2½ cups hot water, ordinary pot only · 1¾cupswaterONLYIProute · 2½cupswaterONLYstovepressureroute

   
7. 7

   Step 7: For an ordinary pot, skip step 8. Bring to a boil and cook partially covered over medium heat for 7–8 minutes. If needed, add up to the remaining ½ cup ordinary-pot water. Cover, lower the heat and cook for another 8–10 minutes until the water is absorbed and the rice is cooked. Turn off and rest briefly before fluffing.

   First ordinary-pot peas pulao phase · 8 minUses ONLYpotroutewithinitial2½cupswater · onlyremainingoptional½cupfromsameordinary-potwater

8. 8

   Step 8: For pressure cooking instead of step 7, choose one method. STOVETOP COOKER: cover and cook over medium heat until one whistle, then turn off. Let pressure fall naturally, or use a faster release only if permitted by the cooker instructions; open after full release. INSTANT POT: seal and pressure-cook on high for 5 minutes. Allow 4–5 minutes natural release, or 8 minutes for softer rice, then vent the remainder as directed and open after full release.

   Uses ONLYstovepressureorIP,insteadofpotroute

   
9. 9

   Step 9: Gently fluff your finished rice from step 7 or step 8. Add the cashews reserved in step 2 and the coriander garnish if you omitted mint. Serve hot; prepared raita or curry make optional accompaniments.

   Uses onlysametenoptionalnutsfriedearlier · ONLYstovepressureorIProuteinsteadpot · ONLYifpotroutewaschosen · quartercupcoriandergarnishONLYifmintomitted