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Shada polao
Plain fragrant rice
সাদা পোলাও (shada polao): fragrant kalijira rice in ghee with whole spices, for the wedding table
At a biye bari in Dhaka or Sylhet, shada polao is the ivory-white mound at the centre of the wedding plate, waiting for the chicken roast, rezala and jali kabab; it is also the rice families make for Eid and for guests. Tiny, perfumed kalijira (or chinigura) grains are fried in ghee with cardamom, cinnamon and bay, then cooked with just enough water so they come out separate, glossy and fragrant with a hint of sweetness. The mistake to avoid is too much water: kalijira grains are small and turn mushy fast, so measure carefully and let them finish in steam. Contains milk (ghee). Chef's tip: add a tablespoon of milk and a few drops of kewra or rose water just before the final steam, as wedding cooks do, for that unmistakable biye bari perfume.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 14 oz kalijira or chinigura riceor short-grain aromatic rice, washed until clear
- 4 tbsp ghee
- 1 onionthinly sliced
- 5 green cardamom podscracked
- 2 cinnamon stickabout 4 cm each
- 4 cloves
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 ¼ tsp salt
- 2 ¾ cups hot water
- 1 tbsp whole milk
- ¼ tsp kewra or rose wateropt
- 2 tbsp raisins (optional)fried in ghee
- 3 green chilliesleft whole
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Method
0/7 doneStep 1: Drain the washed 14 oz kalijira or chinigura rice and spread it on a tray to dry for 20 minutes; dry grains fry without breaking.
20 minStep 3: Add 5 green cardamom pods, 2 cinnamon stick, 2 bay leaves and 4 cloves and stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
1 minStep 4: Add the rice and fry gently, stirring, for 3 minutes until every grain is coated in ghee and looks translucent at the edges.
3 minStep 5: Pour in 2 ¾ cups hot water with 1 tsp sugar and 1 ¼ tsp salt, add 3 green chillies, bring to the boil and cook uncovered over a medium heat until the water sinks below the rice and the surface looks pitted.
8 minStep 6: Sprinkle over 1 tbsp whole milk and ¼ tsp kewra or rose water, cover tightly and cook on the lowest heat for 12 minutes, then rest off the heat for 5 minutes.
12 minStep 7: Fluff gently with a fork, scatter with 2 tbsp raisins and serve with roast, rezala or kalia.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 340 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 56 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does shada polao take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 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 kalijira or chinigura 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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