SPINACH AND MUSHROOM PULAV

Even I have named this recipe to be pulav, this is a contempary recipe. When I have been to America in 2002 for the first time, I have been served pizza with spinach and mushroom toppings in a big restaurant. I was quite surprised with the taste and the toppings. Later I found this combination in many recipes including breads. So I tried this combination with our food, it came out well. 

 Its no doubt it is a healthy food, fancy food for your kids and family members. Its milder in flavour, colour and good in taste.

Ingredients :

1. Spinach / palak - 150 gms

2. Buttom mushrooms - 10 bigger size (chopped into quarters)

3. Basmati rice - 1 cup

4. Onion - 1 finely sliced

5. Salt - as required

6. Freshly grounded pepper - 2 tsp or as required

7. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp

8. Cloves - 2

9. Cinamom stic - a very small piece

10. Bay leaf - 1

11. Water - 1 3/4 cup

12. Butter - 1/2 tbs

Method:

1. Clean and wash the rice and transfer to a small pressure cooker, add 1 3/4 cup of water, 1 tsp of salt, cloves, cinamon stic and bay leaf and close it with the lid. Put weight and cook until it gives 1 whistle. Once the pressure is completely gone from the pressure cooker, transfer the rice to a bigger bowl to get cool.

2. Clean the spinach leaves in the running water until it is cleaned completely. Chop it into medium size and keep it seperately.

3. Clean the mushrooms,  chop it into quarters and keep it seperately.

4. Heat 2 tbs of oil in a pan, add the chopped mushrooms and fry for 3-4 minutes in a high flame. Transfer to a seperate bowl.

5. Heat 1 tbs of oil in another pan, add thinly sliced onions fry until it turns golden brown.  Add ginger garlic paste, fry for 1 more minute. Add chopped spinach and fry until the water gets evoprates and the spinach gets cooked well. 

6.  Add salt, pepper powder and the fried mushrooms and fry for 1-2 minutes. Mix the cooked rice to the pan and give a gentle stir without breaking the rice. At this stage add the butter and mix it together.

9. Serve hot with spicy egg gravy or  with fried potatoes.

Note: You can cook the full recipe with butter instead of using oil. On dietery conscious I have reduced the quantity of butter. Butter will remove the greenish smell from the spinach and enhance the flavor of the dish.