Tofu pulav

I always like to cook and enjoy food with family and friends.But, cleaning? I know... all of us have the same feeling.So, usually I prefer something light and easy,one pot meal kind of food for dinner to simplify my cleaning work.One such food is this pulav.Trust me, it is simple to cook but tastes really yum.

Ingredients

Tofu                                          1 cup (Extra firm)

Achari masala/pickle masala      2 tsp

Onion                                       1 big (thinly sliced)

Tomato                                     1  medium (chopped)

Bay leaf                                    1

Green cardamom                      2

Cloves                                      2

Star anise                                  1

Ghee                                         2 tbsp

Oil                                            2 tsp

Sour yogurt                              1/2 cup + 1/4 cup

Basmati rice                             1 1/2 cup

Kashmiri red chilli powder        1 tsp

Ginger garlic paste                    1 tsp

Salt                                           to taste

Mint leaves                               1/2 cup ( chopped)

Coriander leaves                      1/2 cup (chopped)

Water                                      2 1/2 cup

 

To roast & grind

 Cinnamon  stick      1 inch

Black pepper           1/4 tsp

cloves                      4

green cardamom       4

fennel seeds               1/4 tsp

coriander seeds         1/2 tsp

bay leaf                     2

nutmeg                      1/4

star anise                  1

mace                         2

Method 

Drain water from tofu and wrap it with paper towel / kitchen towel to absorb extra moisture.

Wash and soak rice for 15 minutes.

Take 1/4 cup yogurt in a bowl.Add pickle masala 1 tsp and salt . Mix well. Marinate tofu slices for 15 minutes.

Heat a pan and dry roast the ingredients one by one separately, given under roast and grind  .Let it cool and grind it to a fine powder.

Heat  2 tbsp ghee and 1 tsp oil  in a heay bottom pan.Add whole garam masala ingredients and wait for aroma (20 sec) and then add in the onions and saute until golden brown. Add ginger garlic paste and saute until raw flavor is gone.Add tomatoes and some salt and saute for 2 minutes.Then add a tsp of the freshly ground masala and red chilli powder and saute until tomato turns completely mushy.Add half of the chopped mint and coriander leaves.Reduce the heat completely and add 1/2 cup of whisked yogurt and give it a quick mix.(If you want , take it out from heat , add yogurt and mix thoroughly and then return to heat.)Now add water and salt and increse the heat to high.Once water comes to a rolling boil add rice. Cook it in high without coverfor 5 minutes.Then reduce the heat to simmer and cook covered until all the water is absorbed and rice is cooked perfectly(light and flaky).

While rice is cooking, heat a griddle and grill tofu slices until you see golden color.

Drain them in paper towel and cut them into cubes.Add these grilled tofu pieces to pulav .

Add the remaining coriander and mint leaves on top.Keep it covered for 15 minutes. 

Serve it hot with any raita .