Everyday rice · 40 minutes
Matar Pulao Recipe (Pakistani Pea Pulao)
Soak the rice. Brown onion. Measured water, dum.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenMatar pulao is the simple, fragrant pea rice served with daal, raita or kebabs. It turns sticky when the rice is not soaked or the water is guessed. The fix is soaked basmati, onions browned to a light gold for colour, a measured 1.5 cups water per cup of rice, and a short dum.
The 3 laws of matar pulao
Why this recipe works
Unsoaked
Long, separate grains.
By eye
Never mushy.
Stir
Fluffy rice.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Pulao
The NineFoods pulao gauge
When do I cover for dum?
Look at the water level.
Method · 3 stages
Step by step
Base
- Fry whole spices and onion until light gold; add ginger garlic and peas.
Rice
- Add water and salt, boil, add rice; cook until water drops. Use the gauge above.
Dum
- Cover tightly and steam on low; rest 5 minutes and fluff.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Unsoaked rice or stirring.
Fix next time
Soak and do not stir.
Why
Too little water.
Fix next time
Use 1.5 cups per cup.
Why
Onion not browned.
Fix next time
Brown lightly.
Why
Under-salted water.
Fix next time
Salt the water well.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Basmati | Rice | Sella basmati |
| Peas | Vegetable | Frozen peas |
| Ghee | Flavour | Oil |
| Water | Liquid | Chicken yakhni |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Daal, raita, kebabs or shami.
Store
Fridge 3 days.
Reheat
Sprinkle water and steam.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 3 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (when do i cover for dum) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Matar Pulao FAQ
How much water for pulao?
About 1.5 cups per cup of soaked basmati.
Can I use frozen peas?
Yes, add them straight in.
Why is my pulao sticky?
Unsoaked rice, too much water or stirring.
What goes with matar pulao?
Daal, raita and kebabs.