Kaju Pulao | Cashew Pulao

With many other monikers and worldwide variations, Pulao or pulav or pilaf is one of the most common rice dishes in India. Be it a simple Veg Pulao or Peas Pulao or a little more royal Shahi Pulao or the flavorsome Yakhni Pulao or this Kaju Pulao, we are quite fixated with this dish on the whole. This recipe of Cashew Pulao made with basmati rice, cashews (a.k.a kaju) and spices is one from my kitchen. It is simple, easy and a tasty one-pot rice dish.

About Kaju Pulao

Cashew Pulao is the simplest, yet flavorful pulaos that you can ever think of. It is also like being fancy with a rice dish, but not fancy too.

Nice long fragrant basmati rice, onions, ginger-garlic paste, cashews and some whole spices in a pressure cooker and voila! A thing of beauty is done in just 2 to 3 whistles.

The flavor of the cashews coming through in this pulao makes every bite of this Kaju Pulao heavenly. If you want to use the readymade ginger-garlic paste instead of making at home, do that. Want to make this no-fuss pulao in a pot or pan and not the pressure cooker? Go ahead with it.

Obviously, the addition of cashews makes this Kaju Pulao rich. So, you can make it once in a while or for guests or on festive occasions. If you have leftover pulao, you can also warm it nicely and pack it in your tiffin box with a refreshing raita or some veg curry.

Cooking Rice

A Cashew Pulao, or for that matter any other pulao will be as good as the texture of the dish along with the flavors. For this, it is very important to cook the rice properly in order to get fluffy, separate grains in the pulao.

After you’ve chosen the apt rice for your pulao, here’s what you should ensure while cooking it, to get the desired result:

• Soaking: You have to soak the basmati rice to be used in Kaju Pulao, in enough water for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Soaking the rice improves their texture while getting cooked. Or else rinse the rice and use, if you don’t have time. In this case, more water has to be added while cooking. Less water is required to cook pre-soaked rice grains. 
• Water quantity: As mentioned above, your soaked rice will not need too much water. Ensure that you are adding water, just as required.
• Sauté rice: Once you have added the rice grains in the cooker, sauté them for 1 to 2 minutes on low to medium heat. This helps to coat the rice grains with the oil or ghee used for cooking. The aim is to get separate and well-cooked rice grains in the Cashew Pulao.

How to make Kaju Pulao

Rinse and Soak Rice

1. Rinse 1 heaped cup basmati rice very well in water till the water runs clear of starch.

2. Then, soak the rice in enough water for 20 to 30 minutes. After 20 to 30 minutes, drain the water from the rice and keep aside.

Also, slice 1 medium to large onion, crush 2 to 3 garlic cloves and ½ inch ginger in a mortar-pestle.

You can also use ½ teaspoon ginger-garlic paste instead. Keep all the spices ready.

Make Kaju Pulao

3. Heat 2 tablespoons ghee in a pressure cooker. Instead of ghee, you can also use oil.

4. Then, add the following whole spices:

• 1 small to medium tej patta
• 5 to 6 black peppercorns
• 1.5 inch cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon caraway seeds (shahi jeera)
• 1 black cardamom
• 2 green cardamoms
• 3 cloves
• 1 or 2 single strands of mace.

Fry till they crackle and are fragrant. Instead of shahi jeera, you can also use cumin seeds.

5. Add ½ cup thinly sliced onions.

6. Mix well and begin to sauté the onions on low to medium heat.

7. Sauté the onions until they start to turn golden.

8. Add ½ teaspoon ginger-garlic paste.

9. Mix well and sauté for a few seconds till the raw aroma of the ginger-garlic goes away.

10. Now, add 25 to 30 cashews. You could rinse the cashews if you like before adding them.

11. Mix and sauté for a minute.

12. Add the soaked basmati rice.

13. Season with salt as needed.

14. Mix the rice very well with the rest of the ingredients.

15. Pour 1.75 cups water and stir. For an al dente texture in the rice, add 1.5 cups water. 

Check the taste of the water, it should taste a bit salty. If not, then add a bit more salt. Cover and pressure cook for 7 to 8 minutes or 2 to 3 whistles on medium heat.

16. When the pressure settles down naturally, open the lid. Gently fluff the rice.

17. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve Kaju Pulao with your favorite veg curry or paneer gravy like matar paneer, paneer pasanda, shahi paneer, paneer tikka masala or shorba.

Serving Suggestions

While I’ve already mentioned a few instances which are just right to enjoy this Cashew Pulao, these are the ways you can serve it:

• Most of the pulaos taste good with Raita. Same for this one. However, since this pulao has cashews in it, keep the raita simple. For instance, a Cucumber Raita or Onion Raita will be great.
• A subtle shorba, curry or korma works wonders with this Kaju Pulao. Even paneer (Indian cottage cheese) based curries like Paneer Butter Masala, Palak Paneer or Paneer Lababdar pair nicely.
• Dal Tadka or Dal Fry are also lovely options with this pulao.
• You could also pair the rice with this creamy Punjabi style Vegetable Curry Recipe.

Tips & Variations

1. Out of basmati rice? Use any variety of non-sticky white rice or long grained rice. You can also make this pulao with brown rice. Simply add water as needed.
2. This Kaju Pulao is a mild one. Use 1 to 2 green chilies to add a heat level.
3. Don’t have caraway seeds? Use cumin seeds (jeera) instead.
4. While preparing the pulao, you can add some fresh mint and coriander leaves.
5. The garnishing on the pulao can be done with mint leaves too.

This Kaju Pulao from the archives first published in August 2016 has been republished and updated on 11 June 2022.