“Aromatic, colorful, and packed with flavor – dive into the goodness of Mushroom Capsicum Pulao!
🕒 Prep time: 15 min
🍳 Cook time: 25–30 min
👩🍳 Serves: 3
🧺 Ingredients
For the rice:
- Basmati rice – 1 cup
- Water – 2 cups
- Salt – ½ tsp
- Ghee or oil – 1 tsp
For the masala base:
- Oil or ghee – 2 tbsp
- Bay leaf – 1
- Cinnamon – 1 small stick
- Cloves – 2
- Cardamom – 2
- Cumin seeds – ½ tsp
- Onion – 1 large, thinly sliced
- Green chilies – 2, slit
- Ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp
- Tomato – 1 medium, finely chopped
Vegetables:
- Mushroom – 1 cup, sliced
- Capsicum (green or mixed colors) – ¾ cup, thinly sliced
- Green peas (optional) – ¼ cup
Powdered spices:
- Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
- Red chili powder – ½ tsp
- Coriander powder – 1 tsp
- Garam masala – ½ tsp
- Salt – to taste
For garnish:
- Fresh coriander leaves – 2 tbsp, chopped
- Fried onions or roasted cashews – optional
🔥 Method
- Cook the rice:
- Rinse and soak basmati rice for 15–20 minutes.
- Cook with 2 cups of water, salt, and a little ghee until fluffy.
- Spread on a plate to cool slightly.
- Prepare the masala:
- Heat oil/ghee in a pan. Add bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and cumin.
- When aromatic, add sliced onions and sauté till golden brown.
- Add green chilies and ginger-garlic paste. Sauté for a minute till raw smell goes.
- Add chopped tomatoes and cook until soft and mushy.
- Add the spices & veggies:
- Add turmeric, red chili powder, coriander powder, and salt. Mix well.
- Add mushrooms and sauté till they release moisture and shrink slightly.
- Add capsicum and (optional) peas. Stir-fry for 2–3 minutes — keep capsicum slightly crunchy.
- Combine rice:
- Add the cooked rice and garam masala. Mix gently so the grains don’t break.
- Adjust salt and drizzle a little ghee if desired.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 3–4 minutes for flavors to blend.
- Garnish & serve:
- Sprinkle fresh coriander and fried onions or cashews on top.
- Serve hot with raita or papad.
🥄 Serving suggestions
- Mint raita, boondi raita, or onion-tomato salad pair beautifully.
- You can also add a side like potato fry or paneer gravy for a full meal.
Would you like me to give you a spicy Chettinad-style variation of this pulao too?