Flavorful and delicious Raju Gari Pulao recipe with detailed step by step pictures. Raju Gari Veg Pulao is a vegetarian twist on the popular restaurant dish Raju Gari Kodi Pulao!
First dry roast the whole spices for spice powder in a small pan – ¼ teaspoon shahi jeera, 1 green cardamom, ¼ cinnamon stick, 2 cloves and 6 black pepper corns. Roast on low flame for 3-4 mins until fragrant.
Once cooled down, grind into powder and set aside.
In a pressure cooker heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon ghee. Roast 10 cashews until they are golden brown and set aside.
Now add 1 large onion finely sliced and cook on low to medium heat by constantly stirring.
As the onions turn golden brown and crispy, remove from heat. At this time, wash 1 cup basmati rice and soak in enough water for atleast 20mins.
Add the golden fried onions to a blender along with 2 tablespoon fresh thick curd and 2 green chillies.
Grind into a smooth paste and set aside.
In the same pressure cooker with remaining oil + ghee mixture, all whole spices like 2 cloves, 1 green cardamom, 1 black cardamom, 1 mace, 1 bay leaf, 1 cinnamon stick and ¼ teaspoon shahi jeera. Fry for a minute. And then add 2 sprigs of curry leaves and 2 green chillies slit.
Now add 1 small onion finely sliced and cook until translucent.
Next add ½ teaspoon ginger garlic paste and cook for 2 mins until there is no raw smell.
Add 1 small tomato finely chopped and cook until mushy.
Next add the prepared onion masala paste. Mix well.
Cook on low flame for 3-4 mins and then add ¼ cup mint leaves & ¼ cup cilantro finely chopped.
Now add ½ cup milk and mix well. After a minute, add 1 cup water.
Next add the prepared spice powder and salt as needed - mix well too.
In about 2-3 mins the mixture should boil well.
Add the soaked basmati rice and mix well.
Close the pressure cooker and cook on high heat for 3-4 mins. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 8-10 mins or until there are two whistles whichever happens first.
Let the pressure naturally before opening the pressure cooker.
Wait for 5-10 mins and rest the rice before fluffing it up. Garnish with roasted cashews.
Serve hot with any side dish of your choice or raita.
Notes
This recipe does not use any red chilli powder for spice, and it all about green chillies. Adjust the number of green chillies as per spice preference.
The spice powder made in the recipe can be also made in bulk and used for flavoring pulav recipes.