Vegetable Pulao

Vegetable pulao is a one pot meal in its self and it also makes a healthy and delicious main course rice preparation.This is yet another easy lunch box recipe.I have used regular carrots,green peas, and cottage cheese to make it more healthy.You don't need much preparation to make this dish.Cutting the vegetables the night before and storing them in a zip lock pouch.Left over rice can be used but i have cooked long grain rice and added vegetables to it.Serve it with raita.

Ingredients
Long grain rice-2 cups
Carrots-1
Green Peas-1/2 cup
Paneer(Cottage Cheese)-5-6 small cubes
French Beans-3-4 cut into thin strips
Sweet corn kernels-1/4 cups
Cashew nuts-5-6
Vegetable oil/Ghee-3 teaspoons
Cardamom powder-a pinch
Salt-1/2 teaspoon

Method
How to Cook Rice
-Wash the long grain rice and soak it in water for atleast 15-20 minutes.
-Take a big container and boil 7 cups of water.When the water starts to boil add the rice and a pinch of salt and let the rice cook.Stir the container after 10 minutes to check if the rice is done.Do not overcook the rice or the pulao will become sticky.Use a spoon and take little rice and check if it's properly done by breaking the rice grain with hands.
-Drain the water and let the rice cool.It is important to let the water dry completely from the rice.Put the cooked rice on a bog flat plate and gently spread it on the plate using a spoon.Now allow it to cool completely.
For the vegetables
-Finely chop the carrots into very small cubes and vertically cut the french beans into thin strips.
-In a pan heat 1 teaspoon vegetable oil/Ghee and fry the cottage cheese.Fry the paneer cubes till they become slightly golden.Take the cubes out of the pan and now add 2 teaspoons of oil or ghee and fry the cashew nuts and the cut vegetables,sweet corn and the green peas.
-Keep stirring till the vegetables and slightly cooked.
-Now add the fried paneer cubes and mix well.
-Keep the flame on low .
-Slowly add little rice using a spoon and mix gently.
-Add a 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a pinch of cardamom powder.
 -Add some more rice.Repeat the process with rest of the rice.
-Turn off the the flame and gently mix again.
-Vegetable pulao is ready.
-Serve with Raita.