Navratan Pulao is an irresistible assortment of various different cooked vegetables and then mixed with the rice and flavorful spices. The name navratan itself suggest the combination of nine delicate and leading vegetables comes together from the vegetable market, mixed with the rice and turn into one of the tastiest pulao known as navratan pulao.

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rice
• 1/2 cup fresh green peas
• 1/2 cup french beans chopped
• 1 carrot finely chopped
• 1/2 cup cauliflower chopped
• 1 green bell pepper sliced
• 2 tomatoes chopped
• 4 green chillies chopped
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 tsp shahi cumin seeds(jeera)
• 1 cup cottage cheese (paneer) cubes
• 2 tbsp curd
• 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
• 2 tsp coriander powder
• 3/4th tsp garam masala powder
• Fresh coriander leaves chopped
• Few mint leaves chopped
• 2 tbsp butter
• A pinch of red-orange food color
• Salt to taste

How to make Navratan Pulao:

1. Clean and boil the rice with little amount of salt.
2. Drain and keep aside.
3. Melt the butter in a deep shaped pan.
4. Add cumin seeds, allow them to crackle.
5. Now add green chillies and garlic. Saute for few seconds.
6. Add all the chopped vegetables.
7. Add salt, red chilli powder and turmeric powder.
8. Fry all the veggies on low heat for 2-3 minutes by stirring continuously.
9. Now add curd and chopped tomatoes.
10. Mix well and again cook for 3 minutes, do not high the heat.
11. Now add the cubes of paneer, coriander powder and garam masala powder.
12. Cook for 2-3 more minutes.
13. Add the boiled rice, spread the lemon juice and food color all over the rice.
14. Mix well and leave to cook for 3-4 more minutes.
15. Finally garnish with coriander and mint leaves.
16. Serve hot with any dal or raita.

Chef Tips:

1. You can use oil or ghee instead of butter, but the taste will be amazing with the use of butter.
2. For making navaratan pulao you can add other veggies of your choice.
3. Do not over cook the rice and mix very gently with the veggies, in this way each grain of rice will be separate and look good at the time of serving and eating.