Serves: 4
Total Calories: 371

1 teaspoon Kashmiri Garam Masala or garam masala
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted ghee
1 teaspoon black cumin seeds
6 whole cloves
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
2 bay leaves
1/8 teaspoon ground asafoetida
3 small white potatoes, cut into wedges
1 1/4 cups basmati rice, , sorted and washed in 3 to 4 changes of water
3 small carrots, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1/2 small cauliflower, cut into florets
1 cup frozen green peas, thawed
1 1/2 cups finely chopped tomatoes
1 fresh green chili pepper, such as serrano, minced with seeds
1 tablespoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
2 1/4 cups water
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro, including soft stems

1. Prepare the Kashmiri masala. Heat the oil (or ghee) in a large nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat and add the cumin, cloves, fennel, bay leaves, and asasfoetida they should sizzle upon contact with the hot oil. Quickly add the potatoes and cook, stirring until golden, about 2 minutes.

2. Add the rice and cook, stirring, about 3 minutes, then add the carrots, cauliflower, and peas. Cook a few minutes, then mix in the tomatoes, green chili pepper, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, and salt and cook, stirring, another 3 to 5 minutes.

3. Add the water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover the pan (partially at first, until the foam subsides, then snugly), and cook until the rice is done, about 10 to 15 minutes. Do not stir the rice while it is cooking. Remove from heat, lightly mix the cilantro, then allow the rice to rest about 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, fluff with a fork and serve.

From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 4
Total Calories: 371
Calories from Fat: 63

More Recipes from the 1000 Indian Recipes Cookbook:
* Rice
Basmati Pilaf with Caramelized Onions and Broccoli
Basmati Rice with Whole Spices
Basmati and Wild Rice Pilaf with Roasted Nuts
Boiled Basmati Rice
Brown Basmati Rice with Asafoetida
Coorgi Yogurt Rice
Corn, Peas, and Tomato Fried Rice
Cranberry Pilaf
Creamy Cracked Wheat with Mixed Lentils and Beans
Creamy Cracked Wheat, Rice, and Mung Beans
Creamy Rice and Mixed Vegetables with Spinach Ribbons
Creamy Rice and Split Mung Beans with Cumin Seeds
Garlic Shrimp Pilaf with Coconut Milk
Ginger-Mint Pilaf with Potatoes and Roasted Cumin Seeds
Goan Coconut Milk Pilaf
Grilled Bell Pepper Fried Rice
Hyderabadi Layered Rice with Cooked Chicken
Hyderabadi Layered Rice with Marinated Chicken
Hyderabadi Layered Rice with Mixed Vegetables
Kashmiri Mixed Vegetable Pilaf
Layered Rice with Eggplant and Coconut
Layered Rice with Fragrant Lamb Chops
Layered Rice with Fragrant Mixed Nuts and Saffron
Layered Rice with Lamb and Apricots
Lemon Rice
Long-Grain Rice with Roasted Peanuts
Madras-Style Spicy Eggplant Rice
Mixed Cauliflower Pilaf
Mixed Vegetable Pilaf
Moist Ground Lamb Pilaf
Morel Mushroom Pilaf with Pistachios and Silver Leaves
Pilaf-Style Rice and Yellow Mung Beans with Ginger
Pilaf-Style Tapioca Pearls
Potato, Coconut, and Yogurt Fried Rice
Pressed Rice Flakes with Peas and Potatoes
Pressed Rice Flakes with Tamarind
Punjabi Green Chickpea Pilaf
Quick Cilantro-Garlic Pilaf with Peas
Quick Soybean Pilaf
Roasted Fresh Fenugreek Leave Pilaf
Roasted Saffron Basmati Rice
Royal Fresh and Dried Fruit Pilaf
Savory Saffron and Almond Rice
Simple Cumin Basmati Rice
Simple Lamb Pilaf
South Indian Mustard and Asafoetida Pilaf
South Indian Sesame Rice
South Indian Tamarind Rice
Spicy Chicken Pilaf
Spicy North Indian Egg Curry
Spinach and Red Bell Pepper Pilaf
Steamed Basmati Rice (Absorption Method)
Steamed Basmati Rice with Dry-Roasted Spices
Steamed Green Basmati Rice
Steamed Turmeric and Red Peppercorn Basmati Rice
Stir-Fried Indian Vermicelli with Coconut and Vegetables
Stir-Fried Mushrooms and Red Chard Pilaf
Stir-Fried Spicy Semolina
Tangy South Indian Rice and Pigeon Peas
Tofu and Chickpea Pilaf
Yogurt and Cashew Rice