Chicken and Vegetable Pulao

 

When minimal assorted vegetables and a small quantity of boneless chicken are left in the fridge then this recipe is absolutely an ideal recipe for a quick lunch on a lazy hot day. 

Ingredients

100 grams of Boneless Chicken cut into cubes
1 medium size Onion cut into cubes
1 small carrot cut into oblique.
1 medium size Potato cut into oblique.
4 to 5 medium size Cauliflower florets
5 to 6 French Beans cut into 1/2 inches
1 small size Capsicum cut into cubes
2 Green Chillies silt
5 to 6 Mushrooms cut into halves
1 tbsp Ginger and Garlic Paste
Salt to taste
1 tsp Sugar
1 tbsp Kitchen king masala or Pulao masala or Curry powder
1/2 tsp Coriander powder
1/2 tsp Cumin powder
1/2 tsp Bengali Garam masala - 2 Green Cardamom, 2 Cloves and 1 small stick Cinnamon ground 1/2 tsp Turmeric powder
2 tbsp Curd beaten
1/2 cup Basmati Rice soaked in hot water for 10 minutes and drained
2 whole Cardamom
2 whole Cloves
1 small stick Cinnamon
6 to 8 Pepper Corns
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds
1 Star anise
1 Bay Leaf
2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
1 tbsp Ghee

Method
Take a pot. Add oil and ghee. Let the oil heat. Add the whole spices - cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, peppercorns, star anise, cumin and bay leaf. Sauté it and let the spices crackle. Add the chicken. Sauté it for a minute. Add the ginger - garlic paste. On a low flame continue to sauté for another minute. Add the onion. Sauté it for another minute.  Add the carrot, potato, cauliflower and french beans. Stir for a minute and let it cook on a low flame for 2 minutes. Add the capsicum and stir, add the green chillies and mushroom. Stir and let it cook for few seconds. Add the salt and sugar, stir it once. Now add the powdered spices - Kitchen Kitchen Masala,  coriander powder, cumin powder, Bengali garam masala,  turmeric powder and curd. Stir and let it continue to cook on low flame for 5 minutes. Add the rice and stir. Add a cup of water. Stir and cover the pot. Let it simmer and cook till the water has dried up. Open the lid. Stir and switch off the flame. Cover the pot and let it stand for 10 minutes. All the excess water or moisture with dry up. Open the lid, garnish with chopped coriander leaves. Serve the hot chicken and vegetable pulao with the salad. 

Singju

Singju is a very healthy popular Manipuri salad and is eaten mostly as snacks. Singju can be made with various types of vegetables, leafy vegetables and herbs. Some of the herbs are locally found only in Manipur.
Cabbage, lotus stem, coriander leaves, spring onion, onion, stink bean, cauliflower, raw papaya, banana flower are some of the vegetables used for making singju.
There is vegetarian version and the other is the non - vegetarian, one where the fermented fish is added.
I learnt this recipe from a lady who belongs to the Kuki tribe in Manipur. There are many ways each one makes singju. This is her version. She used cabbage, onion, coriander leaves and boiled white peas with crushed roasted chillies and salt.
Here I have add lotus stem, roasted perilla seeds (Bhangira / Bhangjeera) power with Pink salt and roasted chickpea powder in addition to the above ingredients.

Ingredients
1 cup of Cabbage cut into thin slices
Few slices of Lotus Stem
1 small Onion sliced
1/2 cup of White Peas boiled
2 tbsp Coriander leaves chopped
1 tbsp Roasted Chickpea powder
2 Roasted Red chillies crushed or as per the spiciness you like
1/2 tsp Roasted Perilla seed powder with Pink Salt
Add salt if required

Method
Take a bowl, add the cabbage, lotus stem, onion, boiled white peas, roasted chickpeas powder, roasted crushed chillies and roasted perilla seeds powder with pink salt. Mix all the ingredients together. Add the coriander leaves and mix the ingredients together. Serve it immediately.