Green Pea Pilaf, or Matar Pulao, is a traditional Pakistani rice dish that consists of lightly spiced rice and peas. It’s a fabulous alternative to plain rice, and it’s also great on it’s own with a side of mint chutney. Or, you can be like my husband and eat it with shami kababs (recipe coming soon!) 🙂
The recipe is highly versatile, in fact it’s the same recipe for Chickpea Pilaf with the chickpeas swapped out for green peas. I suppose it can even be cooked with meat, along with its stock, for a one-pot meal. Go ahead, get experimentin’ 😉
Matar 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 peas
Directions:
Heat oil over medium-high heat and fry the onions until they are soft and transparent. Add all of the spices and ginger-garlic paste, mix, and cook for about 8 – 10 minutes.
Add the peas, yogurt, rice, and about 1 ½ cups of water. Cook over medium-high heat until there is barely any water left and steam holes appear. Cover with lid and reduce heat to low and allow the steam to cook the rice until completely done, approximately 25 minutes.
I love this chawal but have never made it. My husband usually makes it….pinning your recipe to try out later!
I swear Asiya, the more I talk to you the more I’m convinced that we’re somehow related… The only thing that my husband cooks is this too!
LOL!!! This is one of the many things my husband cooks 🙂 When we got married he did more cooking than me….when I had my eldest son and stopped working now I’m doing all the cooking except for this peas pulao and a couple of non-Hyderabadi items dishes 🙂 If you are Hyderabadi I’m sure we can find a connection 🙂
That’s awesome that your husband cooks mashAllah! Most desi guys try to find an excuse to stay away from the kitchen! LOL!
I’m not hyderabadi, but I do have lots of family from Hyderabad, India… maybe (wishful thinking, probably) they have a familial connection to you 😉
That’s it!!! I’m sure your uncle’s neighbours daughter in law’s best friend’s husband’s aunt is probably my cousin!!!! We are related!!! LOL!
LOL
That’s a perfect summer meal, simple & delicious!
Thanks Ambreen!
My all time fave 🙂 I love it with shami kababs too and lots of zeera raita.
Do you ever add tomatoes to rice? I never do but I’ve seen some people doing so and end-result is quite yummy too.
ps: any recipes for boti-kabab?
The only time I add tomatoes to rice is in Biryani or Tahari… I’m sure it adds a nice flavor to rice though!
I wish I had a good and reliable recipe for boti kabab… I’ll be on the lookout for one and let you know as soon as I find it!
You made me can wait any longer for my on shipping basmati rice….
Lol, thanks! 🙂
I just learnt a new way to make matar pulao! how exciting! I don’t use ginger-garlic paste or dahi in mine, am so excited to try your recipe. Don’t mind if I do a spin off post soon 🙂
I won’t mind at all! I would be overjoyed 🙂