Vegetable Pulav - Using Home Made Masala

Ingredients:
1.5 cups White Rice(Preferred: Basmathi or Sona Masuri)
20 - 25 Beans
2 medium sized Carrots
1 - 2 floret of Cauliflower (Optional)
1/2 - 3/4 cup soaked / frozen Green Peas
1 inch sized Cinnamon / Chekke / Dalchini
2 Cardamoms / Elakki / Elachi
3 Colves / Lavanga
1/2 tsp Coriander seeds
1/2 tsp Fennel seeds / Sompu / Saunf
4 - 5 Black Peppers / Kaalu Menasu / Kari Menasu
2 Garlic pods / Bellulli
Small piece of Ginger
6-8 Coriander leaves
4 - 5 Mint leaves
2 Green Chillies
1/3 - 1/2 cup grated Coconut
1/2 medium sized Tomato
1 medium sized Onion (1/3 for Masala + 2/3 for Frying)
1 Bay leaf / Dalchini Ele
5 - 6 tsp Ghee/Oil (Preferred: Ghee)
Salt to taste

Recipe:
Chop beans, carrot, cauliflower and 2/3 onion into medium sized thin pieces as shown in the picture below.

Chop tomato, remaining 1/3 of onion, coriander leaves as shown in the picture below. Remove the outer cover of garlic and mash. Mash the ginger and cut the green chillies into two halves as shown in the picture below.

Wash rice in water for about 2-3 times, drain the water and keep it aside.

Put all the dry ingredients(cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves, coriander seeds, black peppers and fennel seeds), 1 tsp oil/ghee in a pan and fry them in medium/low flame until they give nice aroma. Add mashed ginger, garlic and green chillies and fry them for about 1-2 mins in medium flame. Add 1/3 of chopped onion and fry them for about 2 mins in medium flame. Add coriander leaves, mint leaves and fry them for about 1-2 mins in medium flame. Add chopped tomato and fry them for few seconds. Add grated coconut, mix well and switch off the flame.

Grind this fried masala into smooth paste by adding very little amount of water.

Put 4-5 tsp ghee/oil, bay leaf in a pressure cooker and fry for few seconds. Add 2/3 of chopped onion and fry them in medium flame until they turn light golden in color. Add rice and fry them for about 2 mins in medium flame. Add ground masala and fry them for about 2 mins in medium flame. Add chopped vegetables, green peas and fry them for about 2 mins in medium flame. Add 3 cups of water(It may vary depending upon the quality of rice), salt, mix them well and cook.(3 whistles in pressure cooker.)

It goes well with any kind of Raithas/ Mosaru gojju. Above mentioned ingredients will serve 4- 5 plates of vegetable pulav.