Good day friends! Today let’s explore a famous Mumbai street food, Tawa Pulao!
I’ve been thinking of bringing this recipe into my blog since long. But as always said, there’s always a time for everything!
We have tried and often made varieties of biriyanis. But trust me, this is one of a kind! When I gave this a try for the first time, it was absolutely love in first bite! Everybody in the family gave a thumbs up and here I am with it my blog.
It is said that this dish originated in the streets of Mumbai. A pav baaji stall vendor mixed some rice to the remaining baaji masala that he had so that he could have it as his meal at the end of the day. But he then found a new twist and added some capsicums which enhanced the flavour. This clicked in an overnight and today it’s a famous dish amongst street food, homes and celebrations!
Tawa Pulao is a rice dish that is cooked in broth or separately by adding spices and vegetables or meat. There are loads of varieties in Pulaos.. Its usually made on an iron pan or tawa like you see on streets for Pav Baaji. Basically this recipe is made with the remaining pav baaji masala and rice. Adding a dollop of butter to the rice at the end is what brings a change to the aroma till then.
Since I didn’t have a tawa with me, I used a kadayi. But this didn’t seem to change the taste of the dish.
To make work easier, I had cooked the rice ahead and the vegetables separately. If these are in stock, then it’s just the mixing part and then Voila! You can make the mouth-watering Tawa Pulao at home anytime you feel. It’s an easy and tasty recipe that can be made in minutes.
The speciality here is the pav baaji masala apart from normal spices that’s added to our normal biriyanis n pulaos. The lemon juice at the end enhances the flavour of the dish. You can adjust the spice level as per your taste too.
Pulaos are usually complemented with raita or yogurt. You can serve it with any other combinations too that tickles your taste buds. Usually they are a common dish served on special occasions, weddings and parties. It’s even a common dish served at lunch or dinner at homes.
Do try out our version of Tawa Pulao and don’t forget to send me your feedback. I am sure you are going to be taken out of the world once you have this street food done at home.
Enjoy and Happy Cooking!
Ingredients
Rice -1 cup
Butter -2tbsp
Oil -2tbsp
Salt- as required
Ginger Garlic Paste -1tbsp
Capsicum -1/2 of 1
Onion -1/2 of 1
Green Chilli -1
Chilli Paste -3 tbsp (7 Kashmiri chillies + 1/2 tsp cumin + 3 garlic cloves)
Vegetables –
Pav Bhaji Masala -1/4 tsp to 1 tbsp
Coriander leaves –
Lemon Wedge –
Tomato -1 medium
Tomato Ketchup -1 tsp
Method
For Cooking Rice
Take 1 glass basmati rice, wash it well and soak it for 30 minutes.
Drain the water and keep it aside.
Boil 8 glasses of water, add salt and little turmeric powder to it.
Add the washed, soaked and drained rice to the boiling water.
After 10 minutes the rice would be 75% cooked.
Strain the rice and keep it aside.
Adding turmeric powder is optional. It is added to get a good colour.
The rice gets little more cooked in its heat.
If it is overcooked, it will become mashy.
If you don’t have basmati rice, you can use any rice you like.
You can make any of the rice recipes that I have shown using any rice that you have.
Only thing is that you will not get the feel and taste of basmati rice.
You can use raw rice or Khaima rice. Just follow the same method as I have shown with any rice you have.
Masala Making
Soak 8 Kashmiri chillies along with its stem in hot water for 20 minutes or till it becomes soft.
If you don’t have whole Kashmiri chillies, soak 1tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder in little hot water and grind it.
When you grind them, you get a beautiful red colour. It won’t be as spicy as you see.
If you want it spicy, add little spicy red chillies or red chilli powder and grind it.
The spice level can be adjusted according to your taste.
In a mixer jar add 4 garlic cloves, 1/2tsp cumin seeds and remove the stem of the soaked red chillies and add them too.
Add 7 chillies first and grind it well without adding water.
Add water only if needed.
I’ve had to use 3tbsp of water. It will vary in each chillies.
Now the masala is ready. Keep this aside.
The vegetables and all the other ingredients should be kept nearby while the final cooking and mixing takes place.
It’s like making fried rice and the steps of cooking are done fast.
Method of making Pulav
Heat a kadayi. If you have a big tawa you can use that.
Add 1tbsp butter and 1tbsp oil. Never use coconut oil for this recipe.
Once the butter and oil is hot, add ½ onion and a green chilli finely chopped.
You can thinly slice the onions if you want. You can add cumin seeds too which is optional.
Add 1/2tsp ginger garlic paste or finely chopped ginger and garlic.
Saute this well till the raw smell goes.
Add little salt, make sure not to add much. We can add more later if needed.
Once the onions have faded, add ¼ tsp paav baaji masala or as per your taste. If u don’t have pav bhaji Masala ,still u can make this pulao .. 🙂
Some add 1tbsp masala. Some sprinkle this masala over the dish at the end.
That makes the masala taste felt more.
Usually they make paav baaji and use the remaining masala to make the pulao. You don’t have to add masala separately then.
Now add the chilli paste that we had prepared earlier.
Don’t get scared seeing the colour. It’s the Kashmiri chillies colour.
You can adjust the spice level as per your taste.
Cook this till the raw smell goes. Once it’s done add the vegetables.
Add finely chopped capsicums. You can even add capsicums while sauting onions.
Capsicums give the dish the correct flavour. You can even sprinkle some thinly sliced capsicums at the end for the look of it.
Add ½ carrot finely chopped. Don’t overcook these vegetables.
If you want, you can cook them ahead and add it at this stage.
You can use any vegetables you like.
Next add 1 medium ripe sour tomato finely chopped.
Close and cook this well.
You can add cabbage or green peas also to this.
Lastly cube a small potato and steam it in the cooker.
Add the potatoes after the rest of the vegetables are cooked.
If you don’t have a tomato, you can add 1tbsp ketchup. Taste and add accordingly.
Add tomato ketchup only if you feel it’s less sour. Lastly little lemon juice is to be added to the dish.
Add thinly sliced carrots and capsicum for the beauty of the dish which is optional.
This will be crunchy since its added now. The rest of the vegetables would be well cooked by now. You can add Kasoori methi if you want.
Add the cooked potatoes and let it stay for 2 minutes.
The potatoes should not be over cooked. Adding potatoes are optional.
But its tastier when they are added.
After 2 minutes add little by little of the rice and mix well. Add the rest of the rice and mix it slowly.
Switch off the gas and add some butter to this.
Usually little pav baaji masala is added towards the end which is optional.
Lastly sprinkle some coriander leaves and lemon juice over the rice and the tawa pulao is ready.
You can serve this with raita, pickle or anything you like.
Its slightly sweet, sour, spicy and salty.
When you use only butter, it tends to burn soon. That’s why I’ve added oil too.
Cook on medium flame because we are making this at home.
At restaurants, they cook on high flame.
Hope you have liked our recipe. Do try it out and let me know your feedback.
U can check the video if u have any doubts in the recipe
Happy Cooking!
With Lots of Love
Veena Jan 😍😍
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