Saboot Masala Subz Pulao in Microwave | Step By Step Recipe

When Lataji said she was disappointed that the Cauliflower Peas Pulao I posted was not made in microwave, I promised her that I will make a dish specially for her. So since it was off for me yesterday, I decided that I will make a combo meal for hubby dear in the microwave and please two birds in one shot. Meaning hubby dear says I am not using the microwave enough in actually cooking as such in making pulaos or curries. Imagine his pleasant surprise knowing that both the dishes were out from the microwave.

It was a hectic day at home, with kids wanting me to make them muffins and biscuits. I made both and it all vanished within minutes. One new version I made with baked biscuits I had sense enough to click picture and the muffins turned out super crumbly that I ate more than my share.

Microwave Subz Pulao with Carrot Kofta Curry ~ Our Lunch

Coming back to the Pulao, the Microwave oven came with a recipe book by Nita Mehta and has colourful pictures of dishes made completely in Microwave. I decided I should first try out all those recipes listed. Surprisingly this is the only vegetarian rice recipe in the book. It has many gravy ideas, most of them look really drool worthy.

This Pulao is very interesting as it uses Saboot Masala in a bag. The spice bad concept sounds very nice and I might be trying it out for my kid's pulao as we have tough job parsing all the spices from their plate. As I always say, cooking in microwave leaves your mind hassle free. Not that you don't have to worry what happens, yes you do have to. Yet somehow you can think of doing other chores as it gets cooked.

Update: Saboot by definition means whole and in this pulao it should be used as whole spices. The book asks us to crush the spices, I seem to have misunderstood and almost powered it.  But even otherwise, it is supposed to be used as a whole spice mix. Thanks Niv for the clarification.

In my case it works out great because I won't have the work on getting the spice out for the kids.

In a microwave safe bowl, take oil, ginger & garlic paste, potato, carrots and beans. Microwave for 3 minutes.

Crush the saboot masala in a mixer couple of times

Tie the masala in a small muslin cloth.

When the vegetables are done, add rice, chili powder, haldi, spice bag. Micro for 6 min.

Add tomatoes, mint, coriander green chillies. Stir gently with a fork. Microwave covered for 7 minutes.

Wait for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Remove spice bag

Subz Pulao with Saboot Masala in microwave Recipe.

Ingredients Needed:

Basmati Rice - 1 & 1/2 cup
Ginger Garlic paste - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder a pinch
Red Chilli powder 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Oil - 2 tsp

Water - 3 cups

Vegetables:

Potato - 1 medium
Carrots - 1 long
French Beans - 5 -6
Tomato 1 medium
Green chillies 3 cut into thin strips
Mint leaves 5 leaves
Coriander leaves 5 -6 twigs

Spice Bag (crush together & tie in a piece of muslin cloth)

Black pepper corns  - 10
Fennel seeds - 2 tsp
Green cardamom - 4
Black cardamom - 4
Cloves - 4
Cinnamon - 2 sticks

Method to prepare:

Wash and soak rice for 20 - 30 minutes. When cooking in microwave, more it soaks it gets well cooked.

Then clean and chop the vegetables.

Pulse the spices in a mixer for couple of times. Take the spice blend in a muslin cloth and tie it together.

In a microwave safe bowl, take oil, ginger & garlic paste, potato, carrots and beans. Microwave for 3 minutes.

Drain the soaked rice. Add the rice, 3 cups water, turmeric powder, red chilli powder & salt to the bowl. Mix well. Add the spice bag. Microwave covered for 6 minutes.

Stir in between to make sure the rice is mixed well.

Then add tomatoes, mint leaves, coriander leaves, green chillies. Stir gently with a fork. Microwave for 7 minutes.

Let it rest inside the oven for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Remove spice bag.

Serve with raita. I served with carrot Kofta curry

Notes:

The original recipe calls for 5 tbsp of oil, which I don't think I will ever be able to add. You can add cauliflower, peas and lemon juice which I didn't. You can also cook the pan covered after adding the tomatoes, I didn't.

Since the rice tends to be spicy on its own, you can simply serve this with raitha.

Sending this to Lataji who wanted us to make a lunch box menu using Microwave for Microwave Easy Cooking event that she is guest hosting this month. Have you sent in yet? 

Happy Sunday to all!

Other Microwave Indian Recipes

How to make Peas Pulao in Microwave | Step by Step Recipe

Truth be said I had lot of plans to make something else! Looks like it was never to happen. When Priya decided to have Rice dishes made in Microwave, I was happy to try new ones. I haven't been able to do that. Instead I ended making my  favorite dish, Peas Pulao and this time in Microwave. Gets down within 20 mins, max 25 mins. but you can easily make it for your lunch box or Kid's as my kids like this pulao too.

The next edition of MEC is hosted by Lataji. She is asking us all to make a dish that can fit the theme of Lunch Box Menu, right from starter to dessert. So show us how you enjoy your lunch box.

It's been a hectic week for us. I have been down with severe cough and fever. I am never the one who gets down with such things and it caught us on surprise. And looks like I have passed it on to others at home. With school reopening for a month for the boys, I am so worried if they can go on the first day. When I think about it, it is surely funny. When the cough starts from me, it resonates, goes around the house and comes back to me. it's more like calling rolls! So the Su family might be soon be called Daggu Family..:)..Well I know it's bad joke!

On the flip side of it, I am kind of enjoying this as I get to indulge in bread jam and butter, which I avoid! Well you know there is an up side for everything. Got to look at things that are better right!

I know it is not apt topic before discussing a delicious Peas Pulao but then..I was so glad that my colleagues enjoyed my lunch box as I enjoyed my share of bread butter jam.

Thankfully both the boys went to their school today by bus and by evening we eagerly waited to pick them up. Just as it might happen in a filmy style, they were not in the bus. They were boarded in the wrong bus and they had a merry round, finally went back to school to wait for us to pick them up. The whole place is sizzling with the cricket fever watching the match between India and Pak. Hubby dear is glued to the Tele. The day has been quite tiresome with it being so hot. The match is on the way..meanwhile read on this yummy yet simple pulao.

Step by Step pictures to make Peas Pulao in Microwave

Wash and soak rice for 15 - 20 mins

In a microwave safe bowl, add 2 tsp ghee and 1/2 tsp of oil, add all the whole spices, micro for 1 minute.

Then add finely chopped onion julienne, 1/2 tsp of ginger garlic paste micro for 2 mins.

Next add  2 long green chilies chopped into 3 pieces along with fresh peas. Micro for 2 mins.

Drain the rice and add to the bow. Stir well. Add 2 cups of water and micro for 20 mins.

Stir in intervals of 10 mins. Mine was almost done by 19 mins.

But you can allow it to rest in the same bowl by covering it with a lid.

Shift through with fork to separate the grains.

It's almost the same recipe as the Peas Pulao that I already posted. Except the whole spices included Shah Jeera, Javitri and Anise Star.

Sending this to Priya who is hosting the MEC event themed on Rice.

Microwave Paneer Vegetable Rice | Step By Step Recipe to make Paneer Vegetable Rice in Microwave | Indian Microwave Recipe

When you think about making a Paneer Vegetable Rice, making it in microwave works out pretty good. As I have already said making a rice dish in microwave takes time but on the whole when you consider the texture and the time you get to attend to other chores, making a Rice dish sounds good.

Paneer Vegetable Rice goes great with Potato Peas Roast that was also made in Microwave. This is another of the recipes shared by the MW Chef. And make it quite often.

I met a reader of this blog yesterday and it was such a pleasant surprise. This was the first time I was meeting a person who reads this blog of mine other than my family and friends. Of course I have met my blogger friends. Meeting a reader is an altogether different thing, it puts lot of things into perspective. I have to thank R for her kind words and the appreciation she was so generous with. Though I know I don't get lot of comments from the readers, I was happy knowing what I write here is actually appreciated and beneficial. For that I am ever thankful. Thank you my dear readers!

Another exciting event for us was Konda's Cultural program. I took the day off to attend it and was at school quite early to get her dressed up for the program. It has been a different day of sorts. Never felt so relaxed and task less in long while! Well that only shows I ought to do this thing often.

Coming back to the recipe on hand, I hope you enjoy the step by step recipe!

Step by Step Recipe of making Paneer Vegetable Rice in Microwave.

In a microwave bowl, add the cubed paneer with a tsp of ghee

Chop onions and tomatoes, keep it aside.

Cube carrots and beans into 1 inch pieces.

Microwave paneer for 2 mins in microwave mode.

In a big bowl, add the oil and whole spices.

Next goes the onions..

Finally the tomatoes and chilies.

Followed by the ginger garlic paste.

Microwave for 10 mins.

Take it out and mash it well.

Add the vegetables and again microwave for 2 mins.

Remove and stir well with a ladle.

Add the chili powder and stir well.

Microwave for another 3 mins.

Add water and rice and microwave for 25 mins. It can be increased for 30 mins also.

In intervals of 10 mins, stir the bowl.

Next 10 mins..

Add Paneer pieces to rice.

After 10 min...

Stir well..

Final stage..once done cover with a lid.

Paneer Vegetable Rice in Microwave

Cooking Time - 45 mins in microwave mode
Serves - 5 -6 persons

Rice - 3 cups
Water - 6 cups
Paneer - 200 gms
Onions - 2 medium
Tomatoes - 2 medium
Green chilies - 2 long
Ginger Garlic paste - 1 tsp
Mixed Vegetable - 1 cup (I used Carrot and Beans)
Ghee - 1 tsp (opt)
Cinnamon - 3"
Cloves - 4
Fennel - 1/2 tsp
Red chili powder - 1 tsp
Salt to taste

Method to prepare:

Wash and soak rice for 30 to 1 hr. As you know cooking in microwave takes a longer time than in pressure cooker, so soaking for more time will always speedup the process

In a microwave safe bowl, take the cleaned and cubed Paneer pieces with 1 tsp ghee for 2 mins in microwave mode. Else you can also cook it for 5 mins in grill mode. Normally Paneer tends to get a little hard when you cook for more time in microwave mode directly.

Wash and chop the vegetables into 1 inch pieces, keep it aside.

In a big microwave safe bowl, take the oil, add the whole spices, then the onion julienne, slit green chilies, chopped tomatoes along with ginger garlic paste. Microwave for 10 mins.

Then add the chopped vegetables, to the above pan, micro for another 5 mins. Stop and stir after 2 mins. Add the Chili powder and continue cooking for the next 3 mins.

Add the rice along with measured water. Microwave for 25 mins. This takes about 25 to 30 mins to get cooked.

Please stop and stir at 10 mins interval. Add sauteed Paneer pieces to the Rice. In the final 5 mins interval, add the salt as salt needs to be added at the last stage in microwave cooking. Add a tsp of ghee if you so wish.

Sending this to Indrani who is guest hosting Microwave Easy Cooking event, themed on Combo Meals.

Sending along with this Rice, a Potato Peas Roast and Homemade Chocolates.

Microwave Chicken Biryani | Low Calorie Chicken Biryani | Indian Microwave Recipes | Step By Step Recipes

When I sat down to write down this recipe, I was remembering the dishes that I made for my sis during my stay at her place. I made Uggani for breakfast. Then very late into the night, we set out making Gongura Mamsam. Imagine I had made this only couple of times, always with Athamma around. This is typically her signature dish, I was lost wondering if the leaves have to be coarse in texture or can be ground into paste (as by mistake the boiled one became into puree). Nevertheless it was consumed with great passion and adulation. It was paired with my Mutton Roast that I have planned for the cookbook I made it especially for getting another opinion for the recipe that I have created. I was elated that it got raving reviews.

Then of course was this Tamarind Mix that I made for them to last for about 8-9 months. Believe me, it is really hard cooking in a new kitchen, not having all the paraphernalia you are so used to. Still we managed to filter and extract the pulp and finally got the masala mix done. Now I only hope it stays good for 8 months as I predicted. I was so happy hearing her say that her mom makes it the same way, as she learnt my Amma!

I didn't think there will come a day when I will be feeling tired to even look at the monitor. But that is exactly what has happened. Since coming back to normal grind, I have been so tired to even think of doing anything with the system. The fact that even if I don't get to send an entry for any of the many events that are happening, I can't ignore my own event right. It worked out easy as Smitha choose a theme which gives us many options. So I decided I will send her this Chicken Biryani made in Microwave.

About the Title, yes there is no such thing as Low Calorie Chicken Biryani, yet this recipe calls for no butter or Ghee.

But if you feel it is a taboo, pls go ahead add some for taste!

This was a followup after the many recipes that the MW Chef showed us. Since I can't taste, I didn't know until I came back home and made it for the family that it was really good. Only I should have added ghee. What is a Biryani if it is not rich. Well Microwave Cooking is all about Low Calorie cooking using only tad bit of oil, but I was told that Biryani is not acceptable without being rich.

So this recipe goes without Ghee, but you can add it if you so wish.

I warn you ahead, it may appear making this in microwave is more time consuming and tedious than making it on the stove top or dum process. But you get to rest and do lots of other things during the cooking process. And making it in microwave is more for folks who can't make it on stove top!

Microwave Chicken Biryani in Step by Step

Microwave Cooking Mode
Cooking Time : 45 mins


Wash the chicken and keep it aside.

Wash and Soak rice for 1 hour.

 Chop the onions, tomatoes and get all the spices ready on a plate.

In a microwave safe bowl, add the onions, green chilies, ginger garlic paste along with spices with 2 tsp of oil. Micro for 7 mins.
Keep stirring in interval of 3 mins

 Then add tomatoes and micro for 5 mins.

 Remove and mash well using a ladle.

 Then add the red chili powder, Micro for 2 mins

 Then goes the chicken, mix well.

 Add the turmeric and mix well. Micro for 3 mins

 Then add the chicken mix to the rice that you have kept soaking. Add 4 cups of water and micro for 25 mins.

Stir it couple of times in between.

 When you reach the last 5 mins, add the salt.

Mix everything well.

Finally when it is done, remove from oven, keep a plate covered on the bowl for 5 - 7 mins. This ensures that it gets furthered settled well.

Ingredients Needed:

Rice - 2 cups
Chicken - 300 gms
Ginger Garlic paste - 1 & 1/2 tsp
Onions - 3 big ( 1 & 1/2 cups)
Tomatoes - 2 big
Green chilies - 3 long
Red Chili powder - 1 tsp
Cloves - 3-4
Cinnamon - 2"
Cardamon - 2
Bay leaf - 1
Oil - 2 tsp (replace completely with Butter/Ghee or half oil & half ghee)
Salt to taste

Method to prepare:

Wash and soak rice for 1 hour.

Wash Chicken and let it stand on a colander.

Meanwhile in a big microwave bowl, take the onions, green chilies, spices, along with ginger garlic paste. Micro for 7 mins. Stir in intervals.

Once done, remove and add the tomatoes. Micro for 5 mins.

Remove and mash well using a ladle. Then add red chili powder, chicken, turmeric and mix well. Micro for 5 mins.

Add this chicken mix to the rice (I did this as that bowl was bigger)

Add 4 cups of water and micro for 25 mins.

First stirring is done at 10 mins. Continue stirring after next 10 mins. When you reach the final 5 mins, add the salt.

Once done, remove from oven, cover with lid and keep it aside for 5 - 7 mins.

Notes:

• Please make sure the bowl you use is big enough to fit both the rice and chicken mix.
• Always add salt at the end, else proper cooking will not take place.
• With this amount it got perfectly cooked end of 25 mins, but if you increase, make sure you test the timing.

Sending this to Smitha who is guest hosting MEC this month themed on Festival Dishes, calling from all faith and culture!

Yes I am planning to send something more, hopefully so. Hope you have sent in yours!

Enjoy the weekends!