Skip to main content

Tomato Pullao

A delicious pilaf that may be served with most Indian meals.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 6

Ingredients

2 cups basmati rice
1 pound tomatoes, coarsely chopped
About 1 cup chicken stock, if needed
2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
10 whole black peppercorns
5 whole cloves
One 2–3-inch cinnamon stick
2 bay leaves
1 medium onion, cut into fine half rings
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Put the rice in a bowl. Cover with cold water, stirring the rice gently. Pour out the dirty water. Do this 4–5 times. Now cover well with fresh water and leave to soak for 30 minutes (longer will not hurt). Drain and leave in a sieve set over a bowl to drain some more.

    Step 2

    Put the tomatoes in a blender and liquidize completely. Strain and pour into a measuring jug. Add enough chicken stock or water to make 2 2/3 cups.

    Step 3

    Preheat oven to 325°F.

    Step 4

    Pour the oil into a heavy pan and set over medium-high heat. When hot, put in the peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon, and bay leaves. Stir a few times and add the onions. Stir and fry until they turn a reddish color. Add the drained rice. Stir very gently from the bottom for 1 minute. Now add the tomato liquid and salt. Stir and bring to a boil. Cover tightly, first with foil, crimping the edges, and then with the lid. Place in the oven and bake 30 minutes.

Image may contain: Human, Person, Madhur Jaffrey, and Plant
Excerpted from At Home with Madhur Jaffrey: Simple, Delectable Dishes from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka by Madhur Jaffrey. Copyright © 2010 by Random House. Excerpted by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Buy the full book from Amazon.
Read More
Invert the ratio of gin to vermouth for a party-friendly and slightly lighter drinking experience.
No grill needed for this just-charred-enough sweet and spicy chicken.
Loosely inspired by pasta Amatriciana, a few pounds of zucchini stand in for tomatoes.
Like banana pudding cake and beer can chicken.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Our go-to banana bread recipe is moist, nutty, and incredibly easy to make.
Like swordfish steaks with tomatoes and Peruvian-style tofu.