Ingredients:

• 2 cups – Coconut Milk / plain low fat Milk / vegetable stock/water
• 1 cup – basmati rice, soaked in water for at least 30 min
• 1 cup – pearl Onions
• 3/4 cup – masoor dal (red lentil), soaked in water for 30 min
• 1/2 cup – peas
• 1 pinch – Saffron
• 2 – tomatoes, chopped
• 1 – carrot, chopped
• Olive oil/pam spray
• For the paste:
• 2 to 3 Cloves – Garlic
• 1 inch piece – Ginger
• 3 tsp – Coriander seeds
• 3 tsp – Poppy Seeds (khus khus)
• 2 tsp – Cumin seeds
• 1 tsp – Fennel seeds
• 1 – Bay Leaf
• 1 – Cardamom

Method:

1. Mix the saffron in lukewarm milk/water/coconut milk. Mix well and cook the rice with this mixture. Cool slightly by spreading in a plate. Add little olive oil/ pam spray in a non-stick pan and saute the pearl onions. Season with salt.
2. Add the carrots and peas and cook for 3-4 min till it becomes soft.
3. Add the ground paste and stir well till the raw smell leaves, about approx. 5 min.
4. Add the masoor dal, saute for a min and then add 1 cup of water.
5. Cover and cook for another 10 min till the dal gets cooked.
6. Add the rice and mix well. Garnish it with coriander leaves/mint.
7. Recipe courtesy: Dhivya Karthik
8. http://chefinyou.com/