Easy Meal – Vegetable Pulao And Stir Fry With Edamame

This meal was put together to please the guys in the house. A mild, colorful vegetable pulao for little Boy and a Chinese style stir fry for the hubby. It is easy and the only hands-on time needed is for chopping all those veggies.

I am a big fan of edamame beans right now and always look for ways to use them. I have added a handful in each of these dishes. Edamame beans are easily available in the freezer section of the grocery store and you can microwave them right in the bag.

Feel free to use any vegetables you like or need to use up.

Easy Vegetable Pulao #2

I have numbered this recipe since I have posted another simple pulao recipe earlier. This is an equally simple recipe, but with spices, which make it more interesting. You can make it as mild or spicy as you wish. I have toned down the heat factor a lot since Boy has been picky about it a lot lately.

You will need:

• Rice (Basmati or similar long-grained) – 2 cups
• Ghee – 3 tbsp
• Whole spices – 1 inch cinnamon stick , 2-3 cloves, 2 cardamom pods and 5-6 black pepper corns
• Onion – 1, finely chopped
• Ginger – 1 tsp, finely chopped
• Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
• Red chili powder – 1/2 tsp (add 1/2 tsp more if you want a spicier pulao)
• Garam masala powder – 1/2 tsp
• Cumin powder – 1/4 tsp
• Potato – 1, cubed
• Vegetables (like carrots, peas or green beans) – 1 cup, chopped
• Edamame beans – a small handful, cooked (optional)
• Yogurt – 1 tbsp
• Lemon juice – 2 tsp
• Water – 4 cups (Use light coconut milk or vegetable stock instead of plain water for more flavor)

How to:

• Wash the rice in water. Drain well and keep aside.
• Heat 3 tbsp ghee in a thick bottomed vessel (I use a pressure cooker). Add the whole spices and allow it to sputter and become fragrant.
• Add the chopped onions and ginger. Saute till the onions turn translucent.
• Add the masala powders and mix well. I use a lot of turmeric to give the pulao a nice yellow color.
• Add the potatoes, vegetables and yogurt. Saute for a minute.
• Add 4 cups liquid. Add enough salt and bring to a gentle boil.
• Add the washed rice and lemon juice. Mix well and check the seasoning.
• Cover and cook till done.
  • If using a pressure cooker, cook on medium high till you hear a whistle, lower the heat and cook for 5 more minutes.
  • Else, cover the vessel with a heavy lid and cook till all the liquid is absorbed. 
  • This dish can easily be cooked in a rice cooker too. Do the sauteing in a  pan and transfer to the rice cooker along with rice, water and lemon juice.
• Once done, fluff the pulao gently with a fork and mix in the cooked edamame beans.

To Serve:

• Serve hot with fresh raita and a pickle or curry of your choice.
• Or make an easy stir fry with the leftover veggies.

The recipe for the stir fry follows.

Easy Chinese Stir Fry With Vegetables And Egg

You will need:

• Oil – 2 tbsp
• Whole red chilies – 3
• Onion – 1, roughly chopped
• Ginger – a piece as big as your thumb, julienned or cut into thin strips
• Vegetables (like carrots, green beans and peppers) – about 2 cups, julienned
• Green chili or Jalapeno pepper – 1, de-seeded and julienned
• Edamame beans – a small handful, cooked (optional)
• Dark soy sauce – 1 tbsp
• Red chili powder – 1/2 tsp
• Pepper powder – 1/4 tsp
• Salt – to taste
• Sugar – 1/4 tsp
• Water – 1-2 tbsp
• Egg – 1

How to:

• Heat oil in a large pan or a wok, if you have one.
• Add the whole red chilies, onion and ginger. Saute till the onions turn translucent.
• Add the vegetables, red chili powder, a little salt and pepper powder. Saute for a minute.
• Now add the soy sauce, water and sugar. Cook the vegetables till they are crisp-tender.
• Once the vegetables are done, add a lightly beaten egg and stir quickly to coat all the vegetables with the egg.
• Mix in the cooked edamame beans and take it off the heat.

To serve:

• Serve hot with the above pulao or over noodles.

Non-Vegetarian Variations:

• Add meat like beef or chicken to the stir fry. Add thinly sliced meat after sauteeing the onions. Once the meat is fully cooked, add the vegetables and proceed as given above. You may need to increase the amount of soy sauce and seasoning slightly.
• Stir fry is one of the easiest Chinese dishes any one can make. But if you are still not confident making your own stir fry, a bottle like this will come in handy!

This is a power meal of sorts, because of all the vegetables and edamame beans.

Do try these recipes if you want something different, yet healthy and simple.

Here is a refreshing raita recipe to go with the pulao.

Here is another Chinese dish – A yummy Rice Noodle Soup.

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