Beetroot rice/ Beetroot pulao

Rice is  the main dish served in every lunch or dinner of almost every Assamese people. I also like to eat rice everyday. In weekdays I cook only plain rice because of busy life and because of no time for cooking some special dishes. But during sundays or holidays I find out time to cook rice in different ways. There are many pulao recipes of rice such as, veg pulao, peas pulao, jeera rice, chicken pulao etc.  Beetroot rice or beetroot pulao is a very sweet and tasty rice recipe that I like to cook and eat. It's very easy to prepare and I love the colour of the dish too. Beetroot rice can be Served with raita , salad and some veg dish.

The recipe of  Beetroot rice/ Beetroot pulao

Ingredients:

1 cup basmati rice or joha rice,
1 big or 2 medium sized beetroot finely chopped,
1 big onion finely chopped,
1/2 tbsp ginger garlic paste,
2-3 green cardamom,
2-3 clove,
1 inch cinnamon,
1 bay leave,
1/4 cup cashew nuts and raisins,
1 tbsp garam masala powder,
3/4 tbsp salt,
3 tbsp suger,
2 tbsp vegetable oil and
1 tbsp butter.

Method:

Rinse rice and soak it for 10 minutes.  After 10 minutes drain and keep rice aside.( I am using pressure cooker in preparing this recipe.  But this recipe can be prepared without pressure cooker also. You can use a large pan instead of pressure cooker for the purpose.)

In a pressure cooker heat oil. Add cinnamon,  cardamom and bay leave. When crackling add ginger garlic paste and chopped onions. Stir and mix. Add chopped beetroot. Stir and add salt , suger and garam masala.

 Stir and mix. Add cashews and raisins.

Now add rice. Stir gently and saute for a minute. Add 2 cups of water .  Close the cooker.  Bring to full pressure and then in medium heat cook for 1 or 2 whistles.

Remove from heat.  Let the cooker open itself.

Now open the cooker and add 1 tbsp butter.
Serve hot.