Motia Pulao: Navratri Special Recipe

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The 9 holy days of Navratri are almost drawing to an end. You must have really run of special Navratri recipes to treat yourself and your family. Navratri recipes are different because they are cooked without onions and garlic. Besides you must also use a special sendha namak or rock salt for cooking food during Navratri. Motia pulao is not traditionally a dish that is prepared only for Navrtari. In fact the authentic Rajasthani motia pulao can also be cooked with meat.

But the pulao recipe that we are giving you today is purely vegetarian and perfectly suited for having during Navratri. The speciality of motia pulao is that it has golden fried balls of paneer and flour in it. This pulao recipe is a delicacy and thus takes some time to prepare. But when you are done, you will surely rate this as one of the best Indian rice recipes ever.

Serves: 4
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

• Basmati rice- 2 cups
• Ghee- 4 tbsp
• Paneer- 100 grams (grated)
• Singhada ka atta or flour- 1 cup
• Khoya or thicken milk- 1/2 cup
• Green chillies- 3 (chopped)
• Tomato- 2 (diced and chopped)
• Coriander leaves- 2 stalks (chopped)
• Sendha namak or rock salt- as per taste

Procedure

1. Heat 2tbsp ghee in a pressure cooker. Add the washed and soaked basmati rice to the pan. Saute for 2-3 minutes in medium flame.
2. Add 3 cups of water and pressure cook the rice for a duration of 2 whistles.
3. Meanwhile, take the khoya, atta and grated paneer in a large mixing bowl. Add some salt.
4. Now knead the contents like a dough. You can use a little ghee and water to make the dough.
5. Make tiny balls out of the dough.
6. Heat the rest of the ghee in a deep bottomed pan. When it gets warm, fry the dough balls in the pan till they turn golden brown.
7. This should take about 5 minutes. Then add tomato and green chillies to the pan. Sprinkle a little salt and cook for 2 minutes.
8. Pour the cooked rice into the pan and stir carefully to mix it up.
9. After 2 minutes. Also add the fried dough balls and coriander leaves to the pan.
10. Mix it up and cook for 2-4 minutes on low flame.

Serve motia puloa with boondi raita and salad.