And the stress and panic is beginning to set in.
We’ve decided to have an iftar party this coming Saturday and our total guest list includes 25 people.
25 people! I’ve never cooked for that many people before!
I think most of the panic is self-induced though. You see, I’m really OCD when it comes to planning things. I sat down and made a list of everything that will be served, and then I went ahead and made a schedule for the rest of the week for myself. I think that just having everything that needs to be done written out is what’s scaring me, but hopefully I can pace myself this week so that I’m not freaking out on Saturday LOL.
Anyway, today’s recipe is a chickpea pilaf that can be eaten either plain or in place of unseasoned rice. Some folks (me!) like it plain with some mint chutney (recipe coming soon!), while others feel as if it’s too bland on it’s own. Either way it’s a great recipe to build on and can be customized to your liking in innumerable ways.
(By the way, I’ve submitted this recipe to The Halal Foodie for their Ramadan Event, a place where you can find an awesome array of iftar recipes!)
Chana Pulao
Yield: 2 Servings
Ingredients:
- 1 cup rice, soaked for 15 minutes
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- Oil, a few tablespoons
- 1 black cardamom
- 8 cloves
- 8 whole black peppers
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- 2 tablespoons yogurt, whipped
- Salt, to taste
- 1 cup chickpeas
Directions:
Heat oil over medium-high heat and fry the onions until they are soft and transparent. Add all of the spices, mix, and cook for about 8 – 10 minutes.
Add the chickpeas, yogurt, rice, and enough water so that it’s about one centimeter above the surface of the rice.
After most of the water has evaporated and the rice is ¾ done, lower the heat and cover the vessel. Allow the rice to be steamed to completion.
dont panic, you will not just survive the party but score iA.
Pulao looks delicious, thanks for sending it to my event
Sounds yummy! InshaAllah your iftar party is a success! May Allah swt reward you for your efforts! “The Prophet of Allah (Sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) said,“Whoever feeds a fasting person will have a reward like that of the fasting person, without any reduction in his reward.”.
At-Tirmidhi, authenticated by Al-Albani (rahimahullaah)
JazakAllah sister! I hope Ramadan is going smoothly for both of you and your families 🙂
For me 25 people is a lot of people to cook for too..especially an iftari party since it really is double the work. I always make lists whenever we have people over so I can plan what to do when. I find the list actually calms me down and helps me organize everything.
Love the idea of a chickpea pilaf…we love chickpeas so I know this would be a hit in our home!
I just recently realized that an iftari is double the work, LOL. I’m happy though because my lists really have helped, and so far I’m only a little behind, haha 🙂
wow! an iftar party for so many people… it should be exciting. i did an iftar party for 20 people last year and i was sooooo tired afterwards! lol
i make a similar pulao but i also add a bit of “saunf”… it gives the pulao a wonderful aroma..
thanks for participcating in the giveaway 🙂
I’m really excited! Although I’m sure that I’ll be exhausted by the end 😀
Oh, and the idea of Saunf is great! It’s funny because I love saunf, but once I put too much of it in something that I cooked, and my husband was nauseas for hours after that LOL… so yeah, moral of the story is no more saunf in this household 😀
Sending you positive energy and prayers for success 🙂
Don’t worry, worrying won’t help you, it will only slow you down. As long as you have things planned just stick to the plan and inshalla it will be amazing 🙂
Thank you Sawsan for your kind words 🙂
Hi, I love your blog!
Can I make the pilaf with Wholegrain rice rather than the white rice please?
Thank you
Tamar
Hello, thank you! Yes you can absolutely use whole grain rice, I’m just not sure what the liquid amount and cooking time would be.