16/09/2022
Kala Chana Pulao
Ingredients
250 grams/ 1 Cup Rice(Long grain basmati)
1/4 cup (or 60 ml / 4 tablespoon) cooking oil
125 grams Black Chanas - Large ones, soak in 2-3 cups water for 12 hours with baking powder, then boil them in the same water until soft, and only when about half cup water is left in them, do not discard the water.
2 Medium sized Potatoes, diced
1 Onion thinly sliced
2 Medium sized tomatoes, chopped
1 Tablespoon ginger garlic paste
2-3 large green chillies chopped or paste (can adjust up/ down as per taste)
10-12 Curry leaves
Whole garam masalas:
1 2-inch piece cinnamon
2 Teaspoon cumin seeds
2 cloves
1 Bay leaf
2 green cardamoms
1 black cardamom
1 Star Anise (Badyan ka phool)
Other powder masalas:
2 Teaspoon Salt (can adjust as per taste)
1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Teaspoon Cumin Powder
1.5 Teaspoon Coriander powder
1-2 Tablespoon Shaan's Bombay Biryani Masala (use 1 tablespoon if you want a less spicy pulao)
1/2 Teaspoon Red Chilli powder (I usually skip this but can be added as per taste)
For Baghar and dum
2 tablespoon oil
1 Onion thinly sliced
2-3 green chillies whole
2 Tablespoon Mint/ Coriander leaves (optional)
Preparation Method:
1) Soak the black chanas overnight or 10-12 hours with 1 tsp baking powder (not soda). Boil them as explained in the ingredients section and set aside. Do not discard the water.
2) Wash and soak basmati rice for about an hour, keep them aside.
3) Take 1/4 cup oil, and fry all whole garam masalas and curry leaves for 2-3 minutes until you can smell the aroma from the oil. Add 1 thinly sliced onion and keep frying until it turns golden in colour.
4) Add ginger garlic paste, fry for another 2-3 minutes, then add chopped tomatoes and green chillies.
5) Add all dry masalas and keep cooking until oil separates.
6) Add Chanas and potatoes to the cooking pot, keep cooking on high flame for 3-5 minutes, then add water enough to cook potatoes and cover the pot with lid and let it cook on medium flame for 15-20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
7) Once the potatoes are cooked, remove the lid, cook on high flame until excess water evaporates, and oil separates from the gravy.
10 ) Now drain the soaked basmati rice and add them to the gravy along with 2 cups water. Be careful while stirring now, as the rice can break. Let the mixture cook on medium flame.
9) Prepare the onion baghar on the side, take 2-3 tablespoon oil and fry 1 sliced onion until golden brown.
10)When all the water is absorbed and the rice is about 90%-95% cooked, it is ready to be kept on dum. Pour the brown onion mixture with the oil on top, and the whole green chillies, cover the pot with the lid and cook for another 15-20 minutes on very low flame. By that time, the rice would have cooked completely and the pulao will be ready to be served.