Vegetable pulao is a an easy, delicious and healthy one pot meal prepared with mixed vegetables, rice and spices.  It is a comforting food and simple and quick to make and goes well with any gravy  masala or even plain onion raita or cucumber raita. Vegetable pulao makes up for a perfect lunch box recipe for working people and even bachelors who can cook this simple and healthy meal in  a jiffy.

You can prepare this recipe with varieties of rice like sona masuri or kolam rice, but basmati rice is the most popular rice for vegetable pulao.  You can make a plain white pulao by just adding dry spices  or a flavoured pulao by adding the coriander mint paste.

This pulao tastes good when served with curd or papad or any masala gravy curry.  It can be served as a wholesome meal  or a lunch dish and can be served on any occasion.

HOW TO MAKE OR PREPARE VEG PULAO OR GREEN PULAO RECIPE

To a mixer grinder, add the garlic cloves, ginger, curry leaves, green chillies, grated coconut, onion slices, mint leaves and coriander leaves.

Add litter water and grind to a smooth paste.  Keep it aside.  Heat oil in a small pressure cooker.  Add star anise, black cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves and cumin seeds.  Saute for a minute on a low flame till a nice aroma exudes from it.

Add chopped onion slices and saute till it becomes translucent.  Add all the mix vegetables like cauliflower, green peas, beans, carrot and tomatoes.  Cook on a medium flame for 2 minutes.  Keep stirring the vegetables till they are lightly crunchy.

Now add the ground green paste to the vegetables and give a good mix.  Cook for another 2 minutes on a low flame. Keep stirring to ensure that paste does not stick to the bottom of the cooker.

Add 1 cup of basmati rice and give a good mix.  Add salt accordingly as per your taste.

Add 2 cups of water and stir well.  At this point you can check for salt and adjust accordingly.

Close the pressure cooker with its lid and pressure cook for 3 whistles or 10 mins on a medium flame, whichever is earlier.  Once done,  switch off the flame.  Let the pressure come down.  Delicious veg pulao is now ready to be served.

NOTES/TIPS

You can use brown rice instead of white rice for a healthier version.

Add chopped nuts like almonds, cashewnuts or raisins to enhance the taste of the pulao.

You can  include more veggies of your choice to make it more nutritious.

Do add coriander leaves – mint leaves paste, as it gives a nice flavour to the pulao.