Chicken and Peas Pulao With Sweet-Spicy Cucumber Raita is aromatic, slightly spicy, and oh-so delicious. This quick and simple one pot meal is packed with flavours and makes a perfect weeknight dinner when served with a cucumber raita with hint of spices.
“Oh, I adore to cook. It makes me feel so mindless in a worthwhile way.”
~ Truman Capote
LOVE one pot meals?
Then you sure gonna love this Chicken and Peas Pulao. It is one of the amazing things you will ever taste. The taste is impeccable. 😀
This Chicken Pulao is so inviting and fragrant and is bursting with flavours. Its easy and makes a perfect weeknight supper. This pulao tastes so darn good that I can eat it each day every day. 🙂
Comfort food at its Best!!
Its SUMMER time!! and I am loving it!! So instead of slogging my ass in the kitchen preparing some extravagant meal, I would rather sip on a cool Iced tea and read my favourite book.
Bliss!! 😉
Sometimes you just want a hearty meal with your favourite comfort foods but without too much hassle.
Come in the quick and easy One Pot Meals. Total Saviour!!
One pot meals are delicious and can be prepared in a jiffy. Here are few delicious One Pot Meals, you should definitely try that I had made earlier. One Pot Coconut Rice with Prawns topped with Caramelised Onions and Thai Chicken Fried Rice With Homemade Thai Curry Paste.
Chicken and peas pulao with sweet-spicy cucumber Raita
Chicken Pulao is aromatic and mind-blowing delicious. Its spices and popping flavours burst in your mouth with every bite, with a slight sweetness from the raisins and a crunch from the roasted nuts. Goes well with this sweet and spicy cucumber yogurt.
I totally adore cucumber yogurt raita. Especially during hot Summers.
The cucumber raita acts as a cooling balance for spicy dishes like this chicken pulao. The coolness of the yogurt and the cucumber will counteract the spiciness and hotness of the pulao.
The raita is sweet with a hint of spice. I have added a special spice blend to the yogurt which adds a kick to the raita and also a wonderful flavour.
Just dry roast cumin seeds and dried red chilli till they are lightly coloured and the aroma of the spicy and earthy chilli and cumin flavours stimulate your senses. Then whizzed it into fine powder.
The addition of this roasted dried chilli-cumin powder gives it extra zing.
Guys.. this spice blend has a wonderful earthy fragrance. You will definitely love love it… 🙂
Here are few pulao that you can try.
Now without wasting anymore time lets just jump straight to the recipe….
- 750 gms Chicken, cut into medium sized pieces (I used chicken drumsticks)
- 350 gms Basmati rice ( washed and soaked for 25 minutes)
- 100 gms cup green peas, fresh or frozen
- 3 onions, thinly sliced
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 1 1/2 tbsp Ginger-garlic paste
- 2-3 green chillies, chopped
- 4 tbsp Yogurt
- 1 1/2 tsp chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp garam masala powder
- 1 1/2 tbsp Pulao masala (I used MDH pulao masala)
- 1/4 cup Raisins
- 1/4 cup Cashew nut and almonds
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- Salt as per taste
- 2-3 tbsp Ghee/ Oil
- 400 ml hot water
- 2-3 bay leaves
- 1 1/2 inch Cinnamon stick
- 4-5 green cardamom
- 4-5 cloves
- 10-12 peppercorns
- 1 1/2 cup Yogurt (I used natural yogurt, you can also use greek yogurt)
- 3/4 cup Cucumber, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp cumin seeds
- 5-6 dried red chillies
- 1 tsp sugar
- salt as per taste
- Wash the rice with cold water and soak it for 25 minutes. Drain and keep it aside.
- Heat ghee or oil in a large deep thick bottom pan, then temper the oil with cinnamon, cardamoms, cloves, peppercorns and bay leaves and sauté until you get a nice aroma of the spices.
- Then add the thinly sliced onions and fry until light gold brown in colour.
- Add the ginger-garlic paste and fry till the raw smell disappears.
- Toss in the chicken pieces and fry on medium heat till the chicken pieces loses its raw color and is light brown on all sides.
- Add the green peas, chopped tomato and chopped chillies. Sauté for few minutes.
- Then add the turmeric powder, chilli powder, cumin powder, coriander powder and salt and mix everything well and cook on medium heat for 7-8 minutes. The tomatoes will become all soft and mushy and masala will slowly start to release oil.
- Now reduce the heat to low-medium heat and add the yogurt, the pulao masala and the garam masala and mix well. Then toss in the raisins and the nuts.
- Cook for further 10 mins until you see oil separating from the sides and the chicken is almost 80% cooked. Check the seasoning. Add half tsp sugar and salt as per taste.
- Now add the basmati rice to the chicken masala and give a nice stir so that the rice grains are coated with the tasty chicken masala.
- Pour 400ml of hot water to the rice chicken mixture and bring it to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low and cover and cook for 20- 25 minutes. Check if the rice is cooked. Remove from the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.
- Heat a skillet on low heat and add cumin seeds and dried red chillies.
- Dry roast the cumin and chillies stirring frequently taking care not to burn the spices.
- Roast for 7-8 minutes at very low heat till you get a strong spice smell.
- Cool and grind to a fine powder.
- Cut the cucumber into thin slices. (you can also grate it)
- Add the yogurt to a bowl and whisk it. Add salt, sugar and a 1 tsp of roasted cumin-chilli powder (you can add more or less according to your taste) and stir everything well.
- Add the cucumber to the yogurt and mix.
- Top it with some fresh coriander leaves and some of the roasted powder.
- Serve the Chicken and Peas Pulao with this delicious Sweet-spicy Cucumber Raita.
- Bon-Appetite!!!
I hope you enjoy this Chicken and peas pulao as much as we do.
You know what guys I would love to see your creations. If you have tried this recipe, just click a pic and tag me @gastronomicbong or #gastronomicbong on Instagram or on Facebook.
Hope you enjoy making and eating this Chicken and Peas Pulao as much as I do.. 😀
BON APPETITE!!!
Have a great week and a fabulous weekend ahead!!
Love Arpita
Shelby @ Go Eat and Repeat
August 6, 2015This looks great, Arpita! I am loving the cucumber raita with this!
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 6, 2015Thank you Shelby!! The cucumber raita is delicious on its own and goes so well with this pulao as well.. 😀
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
August 6, 2015Oh my heavens! Arpita, my mouth is watering! This reminds me of the “biryani” my mom used to make! So incredibly flavorful and delicious!
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 6, 2015Thank you so much Shashi!!! You know this is how my MAA makes this pulao too.. I just ADORE it.. 😀
Danielle
August 7, 2015This looks so fantastic, Arpita! I love one pot meals, they really are the best!
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 7, 2015Yes, indeed, one pot meals are the best!! Thank you Danielle! 😀
Ashley
August 7, 2015I need more one pot meals in my life! And goodness, how flavorful does this sound! Looks wonderful!
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 7, 2015Thank you Ashley!! This pulao is really aromatic and flavourful.. you should give this a try.. 🙂
GiGi Eats
August 7, 2015OMG I can just imagine how friggin’ scrumptious this is!!!!!! I LOVEE all those flavors 😀
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 7, 2015Thank you Girl!! 🙂
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
August 7, 2015This has made me so hungry. It looks like the perfect comfort food after a long day.
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 7, 2015Absolutely.. Comfort food at its BEST! Thank you Dannii!!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
August 7, 2015This looks fanfreakingtastic, Arpita, and mouthwatering clicks as well.
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 7, 2015Thank you soooo much Angie!! 😀
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen
August 7, 2015OH MY GOODNESS! I am dying to have this heavenly platter of pulao, Arpita. Looks so gorgeous and inviting! YUMMYLICIOUS!
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 7, 2015Thank you Anu!! ??
Michelle @ My California Kitchen
August 7, 2015I am totally loving this one-pot dish!! And that cucumber raita is to-die-for! Yum!
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 7, 2015Thank you Michelle!! The raita was really delicious.. I hope you try it 🙂
Katalina @ Peas and Peonies
August 7, 2015wow this dish is the bomb, must be so flavorful and fragrant, such a nice way to serve chicken, its definitely a must try.
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 7, 2015Thanks Katalina!! This pulao was absolutely delicious.. you should definitely try it sometime. 🙂 🙂
mila furman
August 7, 2015Yup love this…no actually totally adore it! In love with the spices and the rice…I’m a one pot rice type of girl and this is just incredible!!!! Off to find some of those lovely spices!!!
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 8, 2015Thank you so much Mila!! I hope you find all the spices and try this pulao.. Have a fabulous weekend!! 🙂
Sam @ SugarSpunRun
August 8, 2015I love that quote, I love one pot dishes, and I love this recipe! So many things to love in your post!
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 8, 2015Thank you love!! You are very sweet.. 🙂
Have a fabulous weekend!!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter
August 8, 2015This looks incredible, Arpita! One-pot meals are the best especially during the summer when you don’t want to be stuck doing dishes! Love all the wonderful flavors in here!
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 10, 2015Thank you Kelly!! totally agree with you.. 😀
Ami@NaiveCookCooks
August 8, 2015This looks so good!! Now all I want is a big plate of this with lots of wine and netflix!!
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 9, 2015Netflix, wine and this chicken pulao.. Bliss!! :??
cheri
August 8, 2015Hi Arpita, I love dishes like this, your rice looks amazing, love one pot meals.
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 10, 2015One pot meals are the best!! Thanks you Cheri! 😀
Anna @ shenANNAgans
August 8, 2015Is it weird I am craving this yummy dish for breakfast?!
Looks freakin YARM! I want it in my belly. 🙂
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 9, 2015Naa.. not weird at all, Anna.. I had it as a breakfast the next day too.. 😉 it’s is so good.
Samina @ The Cupcake Confession
August 10, 2015Arpita!!!!!!! I loveeeee chicken pulao!!!! It’s like the most in – demand meal at home (almost every Sunday) I completely agree with you, that cucumber and yogurt raita is a must have with the pulao! I love that you’ve added raisins, cashews and almonds to it too!!!! So truly amazing! Gosh, I am salivating now! <3
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 10, 2015Thank you Samina!! I love this chicken pulao.. can eat it everyday.. 🙂 yeah the dried fruits give a nice crunch and sweetness.. 😀
rasakama
August 10, 2015What a mouth-watering dish ! Looooooooooooooooove it !!! Looks super delicious ! Thank you so much for sharing.
http://rasakama.com/
a Sri Lankan food blog
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 10, 2015Thank you so much.. SO glad you like it.. hope you try it soon.. 🙂
Robyn J
August 10, 2015Hi, this looks great and I’d love to make it, but it would be helpful to specify how much salt to use. Did you season the chicken before frying? If you could tell us how much salt you added that would be a good guideline. It is very disappointing to make a big rice dish and then find that the broth it was cooked in was under seasoned. Hope you can help with this!
Arpita@ The Gastronomic Bong
August 10, 2015Hi Robyn, no I did not marinate the chicken pieces with salt.. If I would have I would have mentioned it.. 😉 For this quantity of rice you will need around 1 to 1-1/2 tsps of salt.. but the key is to check the seasoning while you are cooking.. I hope this helps. 🙂