METHOD
- Heat ghee in a thick bottom pan.
- When ghee is hot, add shahi zeera, green cardamom, black cardamom, bay leaves, cloves and black peppercorns and let them crackle for a few seconds.
- Soak rice in water for ½ an hr. Drain it and keep aside.
- Add milk, water, rice, Paneer, saffron soaked in milk, fennel powder, dry ginger powder and salt and cover the pan and cook on low heat till the rice is done.
- Let the rice rest for 5 minutes and then fluff it using a fork.
- Be gentle and take care to not break the grains of the rice.
- Fry the cashew nuts, raisins, almonds and paneer till golden brown.
- Add fried onions, fried dry fruits and apple or pine apple cubes and pomegranate in the rice and mix gently.
- Garnish with fresh coriander and serve hot.
Tips:
Use best quality basmati rice to make it.
You can either soak saffron in milk before adding it in the pulao or add it directly along with water and milk.
Use your choice of dry fruits to go in the pulao.
Use your choice of fruits like pine apple to go in the pulao.
Fluff the rice only once it has rested for 5-10 minutes after cooking. It will prevent from the grains from breaking.
You can re heat this pulao in microwave. Cover the bowl with a loose lid and microwave for 2 minutes.