Hema's recipe: Tomato Pulao

INGREDIENTS:

1) Rice - 1 cup(prefrably basmati)
2) Onion - 1
3) Tomato - 4
4) Bay leaves - 2
5) turmeric - 1/4 tsp
6) Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
7) coriander powder - 2 tsp
8) cumin seeds - 1 tsp
9) salt to taste
10) Ghee - 2 tsp



Grind the following to a paste:

1) Onion - 1/2
2) Green chiili - 2-3
3) cloves - 2
4) cinnamon - 1 stick
5) cashews - 4-5
6) Ginger - a piece
7) Garlic - 2


METHOD:

1)Soak rice for 1/2 an hour. Cut onion length wise and chop tomatoes, keep aside.
2)Grind the masala to paste and keep it aside.
3)Heat ghee in a pan, add cumin seeds and crushed bay leaves.
4)Add onions and fry till they are translucent. Now add that grounded masala paste and cook till the raw smell goes and oil comes out.
5)Now add chopped tomatoes, salt, turmeric, chilli powder, coriander powder. Mix everything nicely and cook for 2 mins.
6)Finally add rice and stir it well for a minute. Add 1.5 cups water and cook for 2 whistles.
7)Serve it with cucumber/onion raita.