Quick and simple Chicken Pulao

Nowadays I am not getting enough time due to my cutie’s school and also some part-time commitments during the day time. So I am finding it really difficult to spend quality time on blogging.

Keeping in mind the morning time office-school hurry, nowadays my recipes have also become more of quick and no-fuss preparations. This time I am introducing you to a pulao which you will find equally apt for a working day lunch box or a lazy holiday brunch :-)

Chicken pulao is a dish which I cannot resist any time. This is yet another easy and simple dish which can be made within minutes with very little effort. We can also add vegetables as you may like. This is a colourful and flavorful one pot dish. In this dish the rice is flavored with spices and cooked along with marinated chicken. This tastes exactly like biryani but is much simpler and easier to make.

Ingredients:
For marination:

1. Chicken- ½ kg
2. Curd- ½ cup
3. Red chilli powder- 1 tsp
4. Turmeric powder- ½ tsp
5. Salt- as required

For pulao:

1. Rice- 2 cups
2. Onions (sliced)- 1 no
3. Tomato- 1 no
4. Ginger and garlic paste- 1tbsp
5. Green chillies- 2 nos
6. Coriander powder- 1 tsp
7. Red chilli powder- 1 tsp
8. Garam Masala powder- ½ tsp
9. Coriander leaves (chopped)- 2 tbsp
10. Ghee- 1 tbsp
11. Oil- 1tbsp
12. Salt- as required
13. Cloves- 2 nos
14. Cardamom- 2 nos
15. Cinnamon- 1 stick
16. Star Anise- 2nos
17. Bay leaf- 1 no
18. Lemon juice- 1 tbsp
19. Water- 2 ½ cups

Method:

1. Marinate the chicken with the above marinade and keep this in refrigerator till we are ready with the remaining ingredients.
2. Heat cooker, add oil + ghee. When it is hot, add cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, bay leaf, star anise and onions, fry till translucent. In this add the chopped green chillies, ginger and garlic paste and stir well till the raw smell disappears.
3. In the above add chopped tomatoes and mix till it blends well.
4. Add the coriander powder, red chilli powder, garam masala powder, salt and coriander leaves and mix well. Add the marinated chicken and let it cook for some time.
5. In the above add the soaked and drained rice and mix till everything is well blended. Add water and close the cooker and pressure till one whistle and simmer for 3 more minutes and switch off the flame.
6. When the pressure goes off, open and mix the lemon juice till blended well. Serve hot with beetroot raita.

Beetroot Raita:

1. Beetroot- 1 no
2. Green chillies- 2nos
3. Curd- 1cup
4. Salt- as required

Method:

1. Grate the beetroot in a food processor. Mix this in curd along with green chillies and salt.
2. A nice pink raita is ready to serve with pulao.