Recipe: Bethica's Basanti Pulao

Says Bethica Das, "Basanti Pulao is also known as Mishti Pulao (sweet pulao) or Holud Pulao (turmeric pulao). As the name implies, this is a sweet but spicy pulao that is reserved for serving on festive days or any special occasions. It is a must during Durga Puja and it is also a very popular menu item in all Bengali restaurants."

"It is traditionally prepared with the fragrant Gobindobhog rice, which is a small-grain variety fragrant rice. In the absence of it you can use basmati rice."

Bethica is a self-trained homechef, who started cooking from rather young, maintaining a notebook of recipes. She once ran Bengali food classes in Chennai. After spending 15 years working in a bank, Bethica turned to blogging. Please do have a look at her recipes here.

Basanti Pulao

Serves: 2

• ½ cup Gobindobhog rice
• 3 tbsp ghee
• Salt to taste, about ¾ tsp
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp garam masala
• ½ tsp haldi or turmeric powder
• 2 tej pattas or bay leaves
• 1-inch piece dalcheeni or cinnamon
• 2 green elaichi or cardamom
• 4 lavang or cloves
• 1/3 cup cashews
• ¼ cup raisins
• 2 tbsp sugar or to taste
• ¾ cup water

Method

• Wash the rice well, drain and keep aside to dry.
• Transfer the rice into a mixing bowl.
  Add 1 tsp of the ghee, ½ tsp of the salt, garam masala powder, ginger, turmeric powder.
  Mix well so that all the grains are well coated.
  Keep aside for 30 minutes.
• Heat the remaining ghee in a saucepan or a kadhai.
  Add the bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves.
  Sauté for a few seconds.
  Then add the cashew and the raisins.
  Lightly brown.
  Now add the marinated rice and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
  Add ¾ cup water, remaining salt and the sugar.
  Mix well and pour into a pressure cooker and cook for 2 whistles.
  Keep aside for 10 minutes before opening the lid.
  Fluff it up with a fork and serve hot by itself or with Kosha Dalna, Kosha Mangsho, Aloo Dum, Rui Macher Rezala or Begun Bhaja for a comfort meal.

Bethica's Note: Basanti Pulao is traditionally cooked in an open saucepan. I used the pressure cooker method as it saves a lot of time.

Wash the rice well and stir fry it for 2 to 3 minutes or more to remove the starch, as this ensures a perfect, fluffy rice, without it getting sticky.

I used very little sugar, but adjust the sweetness according to your preference.

For the pressure cooking method use ¾ cup water for ½ cup rice, 1¼ cup water for 1 cup rice and so forth.

Keep aside the cooked pulao for a couple of minutes before relishing it, so it’s a perfect and fluffy pulao.

Bethica Das is a Sharjah-based food blogger and her blog is named Bethica's Kitchen.

• REDIFF FOOD