Pea Pilaf (Pea Pulao)

When visiting my Mama (+Juliana Madan)

 for Christmas, she taught me the following quick recipe for a delicious rice pilaf with peas.

Keep prepared the Biryani paste

 Blend: 

• 1/2 bulb garlic peeled, 
• 1" inch ginger peeled, 
• 2 green chilies, and 
• 1/4 bunch of coriander (cilantro) leaves, cleaned

Note - you can make & store the blended paste in the freezer for reuse in the future (as this helps make the recipe all go very quickly) 

Heat oil in a large pot:

• fry an onion till translucent 
• add 1 cup cleaned basmati rice 
• stir the rice in the oil, so the rice does not stick (3 mins). The rice should be slightly crisp, not DAMP.
• add the biryani paste from above; 
• add 2 cloves, 4 pods of cardamom, pinch of star anise, 1 small broken piece of cinnamon, carrots, peas, and whatever is clever
• add 2 cups of BOILING water
• cover till the rice is cooked

Serve:

• add 1/2 a lemon's juice + a little salt to taste
• add fresh cilantro & fresh mint for garnish
• serve with Riata (see a separate recipe for that)