It would be more accurate to describe this dish as a type of ‘desi’ fried rice. This is one of the most popular Mumbai street foods that is very flavourful and very easy to make. In this recipe, leftover plain cooked rice is used to prepare a delicious and unique meal that can be eaten on its own or as a side dish.
Ingredients for Tawa Pilau
- 2 cups cooked rice (preferably made the day before)
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 small red onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic paste
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger paste
- 1 green capsicum, chopped
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- 1/2 cup boiled peas
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 2 teaspoon masala powder (a spice mix that combines cardamom, coriander, black pepper, fennel, cumin, dry chillies, cinnamon, cloves, and dry mango)
- salt to taste
- 1/4 cup water
- some fresh coriander for garnishing
How to prepare Tawa Pilau
In a pan, heat the oil and butter, then sprinkle the cumin seeds and allow them to splutter. As soon as the onions are ready, add them to the pan and fry them until they have a light golden color.
After adding the ginger and garlic pastes, stir in the capsicum and chopped tomatoes. Sprinkle powdered spices and salt over the tomatoes, and cook them for a few minutes until they soften.
Add a quarter cup of water to the mixture to loosen it up, and then tip in the peas and pre-cooked rice to help thaw it out.
Stir fry all the ingredients together until they are well combined. The pan should be covered and the heat should be set at a very low level.
Serve it garnished with some fresh coriander and allow it to steam for about 5-10 minutes before serving.
Enjoy! 🙂
