Vegetable Pulav and Palak paneer

This is my submission for Think spice...think garlic event hosted by Sunita of http://sunitabhuyan.blogspot.com/

Vegetable Pulav

Vegetable Pulav…

Ingredients:

Basmathi rice-2 cups
Cubed carrot-1 cup
Cubed beetroot-1 cup
Fresh mint-1 cup
Fresh coriander leaaves-1 cup
Chopped onion-1
Fresh grated coconut-1 cup (optional)
Cinnamon stick-1
Star anise-2
Cardomam-2
Cloves-4
Bay leaves-4
Shajeera-1 teaspoon
Ghee-4 tablespoons
Oil-2 tablespoons
Salt- to taste (1 tablespoon)

For grinding:

Ginger-a small piece
Garlic-5 cloves
Jeera or cumin seeds-1 tablespoon
Coriander seeds-1 tablespoon
Green chillies-4

Method:

1. Wash and soak the rice with 4 cups of water in an electric rice cooker container. Heat the ghee and oil in a pan on medium flame.

2. Add the cloves, cinnamon, cardomam, star anise, bay leaves and shajeera and fry for 1 minute.

3. Add the onions, carrot, beetroot, mint and coriabnder leaves and fry for 3 minutes.

4. Add the grinded paste and fry for two more minutes and mix it with the salt.

5. Remove from the stove and add to the rice cooker container and cook it is done.
   

Note: Before serving mix the rice gently.

Palak Paneer

Palak Paneer…

Ingredients:

Chopped Spinach-4 cups
Cubed Paneer-1 cup
Green chillies-4
Dry chilly powder-1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder-a pinch (optional)
Sugar-1 teaspoon (optional)
Garlic-4 cloves
Chopped onions-2
Garam masala-1 teaspoon
Salt to taste
Ghee-2 tablespoons

Method:

1. Wash and boil the spinach with green chillies and allow it to cool.

2. Grind the spinach with garlic, chilly powder, turmeric powder, sugar and salt into a paste.

3. Heat the paneer in oven for two minutes and wash with cold water or deep fry the paneer in oil and keep them aside.

4. Heat the ghee in a pan and add the chopped onions.

5. Fry the onions for three minutes on medium flame and add the grinded spinach paste.

6. Allow it to cook for 5 minutes on low flame and add the paneer.

7. Cook for three more minutes and add the garam masala.

8. After two minutes turn off the stove and serve with the vegetable pulav or pooris.