Festive Cashew, Raisin & Vegetable Pulao

Name: Festive Cashew, Raisin & Vegetable Pulao
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: indian

Radhika Howarth

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most cherished celebrations in India, symbolising the triumph of light over darkness and hope over despair. Families come together to light diyas, share sweets, and enjoy special meals filled with flavour and warmth. This Festive Vegetable Pulao with Cashews and Raisins is a dish often prepared on such occasions — fragrant basmati rice enriched with saffron, colourful vegetables, crunchy cashews, and sweet golden raisins. It is both celebratory and comforting.

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Ingredients

basmati rice 240 g
onion 1 (sliced)
ginger 5 g (grated)
carrot 1 (chopped)
cauliflower 50 g (chopped)
ghee 2 tbsp
cardamom pods 3
cinnamon stick 1
cloves 2
bay leaf 3
cumin seeds 1 tsp
ground coriander 1 tsp
cashews 60 g
raisins 45 g
frozen peas 50 g
garam masala 1 tsp

Method

Cook the rice

If you don’t have precooked rice, cook the rice according to the packet instructions.

Prep the ingredients

While the rice is cooking, peel and slice the onion. Peel and grate the ginger. Peel and chop the carrot. Chop the cauliflower.

Blanch the vegetables

Bring a pan of salted water to the boil. Cook the carrot and cauliflower in the water until just tender, around 3-4 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Cook the masala

Heat the ghee in a large frying pan over a medium heat (if you don't have ghee you can use butter instead). Add the cashews and raisins and fry until they’re golden and the raisins puff up, 3-4 minutes. Set aside.
Add the cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, cloves, bay leaf and cumin seeds. Let them them sizzle for 1-2 minutes.
Add the onion and sauté for 7-8 minutes until golden. Add the grated ginger, ground coriander and a pinch of salt. Add the blanched vegetables, frozen peas and cooked rice, stir in the garam masala. Cover with a lid and leave to steam on low heat for 4-5 minutes.

Plate up

Plate up the Festive Cashew, Raisin & Vegetable Pulao with the fried cashews & raisins. Enjoy!

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