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Kaju pulao (cashew pulao)
Kaju pulao (काजू पुलाव): basmati rice with ghee-fried cashews, golden onion and whole spices
Kaju pulao is the "special" tiffin of Mumbai and Hyderabad homes, packed for a birthday at school or a festival day at the office, yet it takes no more effort than plain rice. Basmati is cooked with whole spices and golden onion in ghee, and a generous handful of cashews fried separately until crisp is folded through at the end. The mistake is cooking the cashews with the rice, which leaves them soft and pale; fry them on their own and add them last. Chef's tip: stop frying the cashews when they are light gold; they keep darkening in the hot ghee after you lift them out. Contains milk (ghee) and cashews.
- Total time
- 35 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 9 oz basmati ricewashed and soaked 20 minutes
- 3 tbsp ghee
- 2 ⅛ oz cashews
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 ⅛ in cinnamon stick
- 4 cloves
- 1 onionthinly sliced
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups water
- 1 tbsp raisins (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 2: In the same ghee, fry 1 bay leaf, 1 ⅛ in cinnamon stick, 4 cloves, 3 green cardamom pods and 1 tsp shahi jeera (black cumin) or cumin seeds for 30 seconds, then add 1 onion and fry over a medium heat for 7–8 minutes until deep golden.
8 minStep 3: Add drained 9 oz basmati rice and stir gently for 1 minute, then add 2 cups water and 1 tsp salt and bring to the boil.
3 minStep 4: Cover tightly and cook on the lowest heat for 12 minutes until the water is absorbed and the grains are tender. Rest for 5 minutes.
12 minStep 5: Fold in most of the cashews and raisins, and scatter the rest on top. Remove the whole spices for children, cool the rice quickly, chill if made ahead and pack with an ice pack.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 8 g
- Carbs
- 58 g
- Fat
- 18 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kaju pulao (cashew pulao) take?
- About 35 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of basmati rice?
- Any long-grain rice, same amount.
- What can I use instead of ghee?
- Butter, same amount (keep the heat a little lower, butter burns sooner).
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