This recipe of Cashew Pulao made with basmati rice, cashews (a.k.a kaju), onions and spices is simple, easy and a tasty one-pot rice dish. The recipe can be made in a stovetop pressure cooker, in an Instant Pot or in a pan on the stovetop.
Rinse basmati rice very well in water till the water runs clear of starch.
Then soak the rice in enough water for 20 to 30 minutes. After 20 to 30 minutes, drain all the water from the rice and set aside.
Also thinly slice the onion and crush garlic cloves and ginger in a mortar-pestle. You can also use ½ teaspoon ginger-garlic paste instead. Keep all the spices ready.
Making kaju pulao
Heat ghee in a 2 litre pressure cooker.
Then add all the whole spices mentioned above and saute till they crackle and turn fragrant.
Now add the sliced onions and saute stirring often, till the onions turn golden.
Add ginger-garlic paste. Saute till the raw aroma of ginger-garlic goes away.
Add the cashews and saute for a minute.
Add the soaked rice. Season with salt.
Mix the rice gently with the rest of the ingredients. Pour water and gently stir.
Cover and pressure cook the pulao for 2 to 3 whistles or 7 to 8 minutes on medium heat.
When the pressure settles down on its own, remove the lid, gently fluff the rice.
Serve kaju pulao garnished with some chopped coriander leaves. You can serve with any vegetable or paneer gravy or shorba of your choice.
Notes
This is a mild pulao. For some heat, you can add 1 or 2 green chilies.
You can also add some mint leaves and coriander leaves while preparing the kaju pulao.
Instead of coriander leaves, you can garnish with mint leaves.
Instead of caraway seeds, you can use cumin seeds.
To make the recipe in a pot or pan on the stovetop, add 1.75 to 2 cups water. Cover pan with a lid and simmer rice on medium-low heat until rice grains are tender and fluffy.
To cook the cashew pulao in Instant Pot, first sauté the spices and onions using the sauté option. Add rice and mix. Then add 1.75 to 2 cups water. Pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. Give a quick pressure release carefully after 10 minutes once the pressure cooking is complete. Meaning wait for 10 minutes after the pressure cooking is done. Fluff the rice and serve.