June 12, 2020

Motiya Pulao | Moti Pulao


Share with friends and family

Motiya Pulao is a very fragrant pulao that is topped with some spicy fried paneer balls . Served with some chilled raita or a simple gravy .
I had this at a restaurant here in Bangalore much before the lockdown days and loved the taste and texture of this pulao .Though this was on my to do list for a long time, it was just getting shelved due various reasons ,but now with restaurant hopping totally come to a stand still, I decided to make it for our dinner a few days back.

Traditionally this Awadhi cuisine speciality is a non vegetarian delicacy made using Gosht /mutton but today we will see the vegetarian version .
This will be sure shot hit if served at parties , get togethers or any special occasion. 

I have given a twist to this recipe in making these little fried dumplings or Motiya as it called.  I had run out of paneer so I made use of the ready made gulab jamun mix and added some spices to it and made the fried balls.
Trust me they were equally crisp from out and soft from inside and melt in mouth as if they were made out of paneer .

Preparation Time - 20 mins
Cooking Time - 40 mins
Serves- 2 to 3 
Complexity- Medium



Ingredients 

For the Motiya (Fried Dumplings)
1 cup gulab jamun mix 
1 tsp red chilli powder
Finely chopped coriander 
2 green chillies finely chopped
Salt a pinch .

For the pulao 
1.5 cups rice 
10 to 15 beans chopped 
1 medium carrot chopped 
Handful of green peas 
Few cashews 
Salt as needed 
2 bay leaves 
3 cloves 
3 cardamom 
Small stick cinnamon
1 tsp Shah jeera 
2 tablespoon oil
1 tablespoon ghee
1/2 tsp haldi
1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp finely chopped ginger 
Few strands of saffron 
2 tablespoon milk .




Method 

Preparation of Motiya 
  • In a mixing bowl , add the chopped corriande , green chillies , salt and red chilli powder and crush them well with your fingers. 
  • Add the gulab jamun mix and gently mix it along with spices such that the masala gets mixed well with the flour. 
  • Sprinkle water little  by little and knead a dough as you would do for gulab jamun. 
  • Grease your palms and make small balls from the dough. Ensure that there are no cracks on the balls you are rolling .
  • Refrigerate it for 15 to 20 mins and then fry them until golden brown on medium flame and keep ready. 
Preparation of Pulao
  • While the Motiya balls are resting in the fridge, let us make the pulao. 
  • Wash the rice multiple times , soak it in clean water for 15 mins and drain it .
  • Soak the Saffron stands in warm milk and set aside. 
  • In a cooker , heat the oil and 1 table spoon ghee .
  • Once the oil is heated, add the shahi jeera , cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves and cardamom and fry on low heat till you get a nice aroma .
  • Add the ginger and chopped green chili and fry it for 30 to 40 seconds. 
  • Now , add the chopped beans, carrots and peas and give it a quick stir.
  • Add salt, haldi, red chilli powder and garam masala and stir it once .
  • Add water depending on the rice you are using and let it boil  .
  •  For basmati rice for 1 cup rice 1.5 cups water is  needed. 
  • I used normal sona masuri rice , so I used 3 cups water .
  • As soon as the water boils, add the rice and cover the cooker and on medium flame pressure cook for 1 whistle and turn off .
  • Let the pressure release normally. Don't rush up to open the rice.
  • After the pressure releases, open the lid, add 1 tablespoon ghee, chopped corriander and the soaked saffron over the rice and lightly fluff it with a fork .
  • Close it again  for 5 to 10 mins so that flavor of saffron is infused into the rice. 
  • Transfer it to a serving bowl and top it with the fried dumplings and serve it hot with raita or a gravy of your choice .

Notes 
You can add some fried onions or roasted cashewnuts as garnish .

Blanched florets of cauliflower also can be added along with the other veggies .


4 comments:

  1. I love it! Gulab jamun mix gives a delicious motiya. Never thought of using gulag jamun mix. Love the motiya pulao. I will definitely make some moti with gulab jamun mix. As it is I use it for kofta. Thanks a lot.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow,the pulao is going to be perfect for this weekend. Having a couple of family over and will love try this moti pulao.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Motiya Pulao looks scrumptious. I liked the idea of using gulab Jamun pre mix . Perfect meal to treat family and friends on weekends. Can’t wait to make it soon.

    ReplyDelete
  4. oh my my my !! this is such a wonderful recipe to have, esp with the use of gulab jamun mix.. tempting !

    ReplyDelete

If you feel your search for the recipe ends here and this blog has helped you with that,please do drop in a word / suggestion ,which will motivate me further to help you guys !!