Kashmiri pulao has been our kids’ favorite at home ever since I made it the first time. This is one of the best classic pulao or rice based dishes not only for kids, but for all those who like the mild and sweet flavors in this pulao.
kashmiri pulao is cooked in saffron soaked milk and mild spices. Garnished with lot of nuts and fresh fruits like pomegranate, pineapple and apple chunks.
We get to see a lot of variations in kashmiri pualo, especially in the restaurants. One of the popular variations is a kashmiri zarda recipe, will share that some time.
Few even use rose water or fresh rose petals to flavor the rice apart from saffron.
I often make a simple pomegranate raita to go with this pulao. Add some pomegranate seeds along with cumin powder, salt to whisked yogurt. pomegranate raita is ready to serve.
This pulao goes good in kids’ lunch box and kids will love this. Fruits can be packed separately in a container and layered just before serving.
More Rice recipes,
Pulao recipe
Ghee rice
Zarda rice
Tehri recipe
How to make restaurant style kashmiri pulao
Preparation
1. Heat up 3 tbsp. milk and soak saffron strands in it. Keep this aside.
2. Add ghee and fry nuts till lightly golden. Add raisins and fry. Set this aside.
3. To the same pan, add little more ghee and fry sliced onions till golden. Set these aside as well with the nuts.
4. Add spices along with crushed fennel. Saute till the spices smell good.
How to make kashmiri pulao
5. Add soaked and drained rice, salt and 1/2 tbsp. ghee. Fry for about 3 to 4 minutes. Roasting of rice in ghee along with spices gives a good aroma to the kashmiri pulao.
6. Pour saffron milk and water. Stir and cook the rice until done. Sprinkle rose water or rose petals just before covering the pot.
If using a pressure cooker, close the lid when water almost evaporates, but the rice is still soggy.
Lower the flame and cook for 3 to 5 minutes. Switch off the stove. Do not let the cooker whistle. If using normal rice, let it whistle once.
7. When the pressure goes down. Open the lid and fluff the rice.
8. Transfer the rice to a serving bowl.
9. Garnish with fried onions, nuts, raisins and chopped fruits.
Kashmiri pulao is ready to serve.
Kashmiri pulao recipe | How to make kashmiri pulao
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )
- 2 tablespoon ghee
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 1 small onion sliced thinly
- 2 pinch saffron or kesar or 1 tsp rose water
- 3 tablespoon milk
- 8 cashew nuts
- 6 walnuts chopped (optional)
- 6 Almonds or any other nuts chopped
- 1 tablespoon raisins
- 1 ½ cup water (adjust to suit your rice)
- 1 to 2 tablespoon sugar (optional)
spices
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds or saunf
- 1 bay leaf or tej patta
- ½ teaspoon caraway seeds or shahi jeera
- 1 small black cardamom (optional)
- 1 small cinnamon piece or dalchini
- 3 green cardamoms or ealichi
- 4 cloves or laung
- ½ teaspoon dry ginger powder (optional)
fruits
- 2 tablespoon pomegranate
- ¼ cup apple and pineapple chopped
Instructions
Preparation
- Heat up milk and soak saffron in milk. Set aside. You can microwave milk for 20 to 25 second and soak it.
- Crush fennel seeds coarsely if possible. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a pot. Add nuts and fry till golden.
- Add raisins and just stir them. Set these aside.
- To the same pan, add sliced onions and fry till golden. Set these aside as well.
How to make kashmiri pulao
- Add all the dry spices including fennel seeds and fry till they begin to smell good. Do not burn.
- Transfer rice. Sprinkle salt, ½ tbsp ghee and fry for about 3 minutes.
- Pour the saffron milk and water. Stir and check salt.
- Cook the rice till fully done. If cooking in a pressure cooker, cook till almost water evaporates.
- When it is still soggy, add rose water. Cover the lid and simmer for 5 minutes. Switch off before it whistles.
- When the pressure goes down switch off. If cooking in a pot, when the water almost evaporates fully, sprinkle rose water. Cover and cook.
- Fluff up after 10 minutes.
- Transfer kashmiri pulao to a serving bowl.
- Garnish with fried onions, nuts, raisins, and pomegranate, apple and pineapple chunks.
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
Khusi mahanty says
Very nice recipes..😗😗😗
swasthi says
Thank you!
Sunitha says
Can I use pineapple juice to cook the rice?
swasthi says
Hi Sunitha,
Yes you can use. Avoid using milk. Instead add the saffron directly if using.
Anindya Basu says
Dear Swasthi Ma’am,
This is a wonderful recipe. I was wondering how to prepare Navratan Pulao next. Can you please help me?
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Anindya Basu
swasthi says
Hi Anindya
Thank you. Yes I will share the recipe soon
Ana says
Very nice recipes , thanks useful for kids … loved ur recipes a lot … keep posting Newer recipes …
swasthi says
welcome
priya says
Nice receipe……..
Anu says
This veg kashmiri pulao looks AMAZING. So inviting and full of YUM!
Priya says
Omg, wat a delightful,rich looking pulao. Very catchy.
priya satheesh says
Sounds too yummy…Love the colorful presentation!
Amarendra says
Awesome pulao.. I loved its bright colour. Too Good.
Vidya says
Very rich and colourful pulao….looks too good.
Suman Arthy says
Pulao looks so yummy…bookmarked…
Teena Mary says
Loved the flavourful & colorful recipe!!
Priya R says
Swasthi this looks so inviting and love the color… 🙂 congrats on winning the prize money
kitchen queen says
awesome yummy and delicious kashmiri pulao.
Suja Manoj says
Love the color and presentation,yummy rice.
PT says
yummy and flavorful pulao.. looks colorful..
Meena B says
wow i always thought kashmiri pulao was sweet bt this is different and seems quite heavy