½cupfinely chopped cilantro / coriander leaves for garnishing
Instructions
Add a tablespoon of ghee to a wok placed over medium-heat.
Add cumin seeds to hot ghee. Once it starts sizzling, add chopped onions along with green chilies and ginger-garlic paste.
Fry the onions till they turn soft and translucent (approximately 5 minutes).
Add turmeric powder and salt. Mix well.
Add the chopped tomatoes and cook till they soften.
Add the remaining spices - chili powder and pav bhaji masala. Let the spices cook for a minute or two.
Add the veggies - cabbage, beans, bell pepper, and green peas. Fry for another 5 minutes or so till slightly softened.
Add the cooked rice and fold in gently. Let cook for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld in.
Turn off the heat. Top with a tablespoon of ghee or butter, cilantro leaves, and lime juice. Mix well.
Serve with a side of yogurt or raita.
Notes
How to make Basmati rice
Rinse the rice using a strainer till the water runs clear.
Soak the rice in twice the amount of water for 30 minutes. You can skip this step if you are in a rush.
Add water to the inner pot of an Instant Pot.
Drain the rice and add it to the inner pot. Mix well.
Close the lid and set the steam valve to sealing.
Pressure cook for 3 minutes under high pressure.
When the cooking cycle is complete, wait for 10 minutes before releasing pressure.
Open the lid and let the steam escape. Wait for a minute or two and then fluff the rice gently with a fork.
Recipe notes & tips
Buy store-bought veggies to reduce prep time.
Substitute pav bhaji masala with the same amount of either garam masala or biryani masala, if needed.
Leftover rice works best in this street-style tawa pulao recipe. Similar to fried rice, the dryer the better so that they hold shape! Using leftover rice also speeds up the cooking process.
If you want to amp up the veggies in this tawa rice recipe, use cauliflower rice instead of rice!
Increase the heat in this recipe by adding more diced green chiles, cayenne pepper, or red chili flakes.
Serving suggestions
Serve this homemade tawa pulao with some cool, creamy homemade yogurt, or raita. You also can't go wrong plating it with a slice of lemon or mango pickle.
Storage, freezing, and reheating tips
Store leftover tawa pulao in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 5 days.
Freeze the cooled leftovers from this tawa pulao recipe in an airtight, freezer-safe container for up to one month.
Reheat chilled or frozen leftovers in the microwave or in a skillet on the stovetop with a little oil or ghee until warmed through.