Chaas Wala Pulao Recipe (Light, Tangy Buttermilk Pulao)
If you love light, comforting rice dishes that don’t feel heavy, this chaas wala pulao is going to be your new favorite. It’s tangy, aromatic, and comes together with pantry staples.
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 1 cup long-grain basmati rice
- ½ cup full-fat plain yogurt (dahi, curd)
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 bay leaf (tej patta) cut into small pieces
- 2-3 cloves (laung)
- 1 inch cinnamon (dalchini)
- ½ cup sliced red onions
- 2 teaspoons grated ginger
- 2-3 green chilies slit in half
- 1 cup mixed vegetables I used a mix of green beans, green peas, carrots, and cauliflower
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon pulao masala or garam masala
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (fresh coriander)
Instructions
Soak The Rice
- Rinse the rice with water 2-3 times and soak it in enough water. Set aside for 15 minutes.
Make The Chaas
- Add yogurt to a bowl. Whisk well using a wire whisk until smooth and creamy. Add 1 and ¼ cups of water and mix well.
If using store-bought chaas, then skip this step. Use 1 and ¾ cups of ready chaas.
Make The Pulao
- Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Once the oil is hot, add cumin seeds, bay leaf, cloves, and cinnamon and saute for 4-5 seconds.
- Add onions and cook until they turn pinkish.
- Add ginger and green chilies and cook until onions are golden brown.
- Drain the rice and add it to the pan, and sauté for 1 minute.
- Add vegetables, turmeric powder, pulao masala (or garam masala), salt, and chaas, and stir gently to combine.
- Reduce the heat to low. Cover the pan with a lid and cook undisturbed for 20 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and let it rest for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and fluff the pulao using a fork. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot.
Notes
Use aged, long-grain basmati rice for the best texture. Having said that, this rice dish can be made using any rice variety you have at hand.
Do not confuse chaas with the buttermilk sold at American grocery stores. I make my own chaas with full-fat plain yogurt and water, but you can also buy chaas from Indian grocery stores.
Use any cooking oil to make the pulao. You can also replace oil with ghee to make it even more flavorful.
Nutrition
Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 696mg | Potassium: 247mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2348IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg
