Pulao is a classic one-pot meal. Great for any weather… all you need with it is some yogurt! It’s super flavorful, packed with veggies, and feels like a warm hug.

Main dish for: 4-5 people. Prep Time: 30 minutes. Cook Time: 60 minutes. Note: pay attention to whether recipe asks for seeds, powder, or leaves – it matters.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups uncooked basmati rice
• 6 cups water
• 2 small potatoes, diced or sliced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 1/2 cup frozen peas
• 3 cups chopped cauliflower
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/2 inch ginger
• 1.5 tbsp mustard oil
• salt to taste

• 1-2 green chillies
• 1/2 cup dhaniya (coriander) leaves
• 4 pieces long (clove)
• 1/4 tsp jeera seeds
• 3 pieces small elaichi (cardamom)
• 3 pieces big elaichi (cardamom)
• 8 pieces whole black pepper
• 1 inch cinnamon stick
• 2 pieces anise star
• 2 tsp biryani masala

The Process:

1. Wash the rice for at least 30 minutes and leave it in the strainer so all the water is drained out. This should be done first, and meanwhile, you can chop and sauté all the other ingredients together. Wash and cut the potatoes, cauliflower, carrots, and peas.

2. Finely chop the onion, garlic, ginger, green chillies, and coriander. In a small bowl or plate, take out long (cloves), jeera seeds, cardamoms, whole black pepper, cinnamon stick, and anise. This whole garam masala mix will all be put in oil at the same time so no need to separate them out.

3. Pour out the mustard oil in a wok (or in the Instapot itself). Allow the oil to heat up enough- the measure if when a few jeera seeds immediately fizzle in the oil. Add all the whole spices in Step 2. After a bit, add the garlic, ginger, and green chillies to the oil.

4. When the garlic and ginger are a little cooked, add the onions and sauté really well (they will turn pink and almost caramelized).

5. When the onion mix is well done, add the peas. Mix everything for a bit.

6. Now add the potatoes, cauliflower, and carrots all in. Keep stirring frequently.

7. After all the vegetables have fried well, add the biryani masala in and stir it in evenly. Then after a bit more, add the dhaniya leaves.

8. In the Instapot, add in the basmati rice first. Then, add the sauté mix with all the vegetables and spices on top.

9. Finally add the cups of water and salt. Mix very gently, careful not to break the rice. Cook everything using the “rice” setting on the Instapot. Release the steam immediately as its done. Serve hot with some yogurt if desired and enjoy!!