SWEET PULAO WITH SPICED POTATO

I was reading an article on how fast food is taking over home cooked food, specially during lunch hours at school, offices, everywhere. Really liked the read and agree with the timely input. I will not go into any argument here, but this ancient mother has only one question for the new age mothers....if this trend is repeated every day over the years, will it be good for their health? Is time and effort more important than our loved one's health? I know that little bit of time management can solve this problem. Our family is our priority and keeping them in good health is our responsibility.

At my home, the wiser person gets silly when it comes to taking lunch from home. Many things I have to listen everyday....his bag gets heavier carrying the lunch box, he feels awkward taking out the lunch box in front of all, that I am treating him  in the same league as his son, I am not giving him his space. Well I give a deaf ear to all these and do what I feel is right. I remember our mom packing the lunch for me while I was in college too. I used to get too little of pocket money so that I cannot eat outside food much. That generation parents did not believe in giving too much money to their kids.

Since my men eat very light breakfast saying they cannot travel with full stomach, I pack heavy lunch for them. My love for rice leads me to try n test all kinds of rice recipes on them. This SWEET PULAO  is Bengal favourite, goes with all kinds of spicy curries.... vegetarian / non vegetarian. I served it with a SPICED POTATO CURRY.

INGREDIENTS :[ for the pulao ]

Rice [Chinigura / Kalijeera / Gobinda Bhog] : 1 coffee mug
Oil : 2tbsp
Ghee [clarified butter] : 4 tbsp + 1tbsp
Cinnamon Sticks : 4 one inch
Green Cardamom : 4
Cloves : 3
Bay leaf : 3-4 [small]
Salt : As required
Sugar : 3 tbsp
Turmeric Powder : 1/2 tsp
Cashew Nut : 10-12
Raisins : 12-15
Water : 2 1/2 coffee mug [of same size which measured the rice]

INGREDIENTS : [ for the potato curry ]

Potato : 4
Onion Paste : 4 tbsp
Garlic Paste : 1tbsp
Ginger Paste : 1tbsp
Red Chilli Powder : 1tsp
Green Chilli : 2 [slitted]
Cinnamon Stick : I one inch size
Green Cardamom : 2
Cloves : 2
Cumin Seeds : 2 pinches
Bay leaf : 1
Salt : As per taste
Turmeric Powder : 1tsp
Sugar : 1tsp
Oil : 2 tbsp

METHOD :

Wash the rice and spread on a newspaper! We need to dry the rice! Wash, peel and cut each potato into 4 pieces and apply little salt and turmeric to it. Wash, peel and slice the onions and slit the green chillies.

Heat 2tbsp oil and 3 tbsp ghee in a heavy bottomed vessel. Fry the cashew nuts & raisins, take out!

Temper with the bayleaf, cinnamon, green cardamom and cloves. Add the rice grains! Stir continuously for 3-4 minutes at medium to low heat. They should not get brown but well coated with the ghee. Add the turmeric powder. Stir fry again for a pretty 5 minutes!

Add 2 1/2 coffee mugs of water and cover. Keep the heat at medium to low. Check occasionally. After 8-10 minutes, when the rice is almost done, add 1 table spoon of ghee, the fried cashew nuts & raisins. Shake well the vessel with the cover on it and switch off. Do not uncover, keep as it is for at least 15-20 minutes.

Let us do the Spicy Potato now, actually it is the Bengali Aloor Dum, the simplest & best tasted!

Wash, peel and cut each potato into 4 pieces and apply little salt and turmeric to it. Wash, peel and paste  the onions and slit the green chillies.

In a wok heat the oil. Fry the potato pieces till light brown. Keep aside. Temper the same oil with bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cumin seed, green cardamom and cloves.

Add the onion paste and fry till light brown, add the ginger- garlic paste and fry till the raw smell goes. Add the salt, turmeric powder, chilli powder. Saute well till the spices separate from the oil.

Add the fried potatoes. Coat well with the spices. Add 2 small tea cups of water. Stir and let boil covered for 6-8 minutes. Add the sugar & the washed, slitted green chillies! Give a stir, mix well and switch off the gas burner. Its done.

Serve the sweet pulao and spiced potato with a salad and pickle of your choice!! The spiced potatoes goes very well with any type of South Asian breads!