Gajar pulav recipe - Carrot pulao recipe - Carrot rice

Gajar pulav recipe - Gajar pulao is a healthy one pot meal made with carrots and rice. Carrot, as you all know is loaded with essential nutrients which helps to keep us healthy. These type of pulao can be served with a bowl of raita, papad and pickles. Earlier, I had posted few other pulao recipes which can be prepared easily in pressure cooker. Most of the time I make pulao in cooker, but here I have precooked the rice, then made a tempering with onion, whole spices and other ingredients. I have tried both methods. and pulao tastes equally good.

Gajar Pulav Recipe

Prep time : 15 mins
Cook time : 25 mins
Total time : 40 mins
Recipe type : Main
Cuisine : Indian
Yield : Serves 3
Author : Vidya Chandrahas

Ingredients 

• 2 large sized onions, thinly sliced
• 6 cloves / lavang
• 1" cinnamon / dalchini, cut into small pieces
• 7-8 black peppers, crushed
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp ginger paste (or  1/2" ginger, chopped )
• 1/2  tsp garlic paste (or 4 garlic flakes, chopped )
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 3/4 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2  tsp garam masala
• 2 cups grated carrots / delhi gajar
• 2 green cardamoms, slit from one side
• 1/4 cup chopped coriander leaves
• 1 tbsp ghee or as required
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Salt to taste

For the rice 

• 1 cup basmati rice
• 1 cardamom, slit from one side
• 1 cloves / lavang
• 1/4" cinnamon
• 1/2  tsp turmeric powder
• 2 cups water
• A pinch of salt

Method 

1. Wash the rice and drain water. Keep it aside for about 5 minutes. Put the rice in a heavy bottomed vessel.
2. Add cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, turmeric powder, 2 cups of water and salt. 
3. Cook till it  the rice is done.Do not cook it too soft. 
4. Spread the cooked rice on a flat plate. Separate the rice grains with a fork.
5. Wash, peel and grate the carrots. Thinly slice the onions and set aside.
6. Heat ghee in a pan, add cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf, peppers and saute for  few seconds.
7. Add onions and fry till they become golden brown in colour. Add the ginger and garlic paste. Fry till the raw smell goes. 
8. Add the chilli powder, garam masala and turmeric powder. Saute for few seconds.
9. Add the grated carrots and saute for  3-4 minutes. Add the cardamoms and salt. Mix well. 
10. Cook covered  on low flame till the carrots become soft. Stir in between. 
11. When carrots become soft, add cooked rice and mix.
12. Cook covered on a low flame for about 5 minutes and then remove from the flame. Then add the lemon juice and mix well. 
13. Garnish with coriander leaves. Serve the carrot rice hot with raita, papad and pickle