Achari Chana Pulao | Quick Lunch box Ideas

Achari Chana Pulao,the name itself creates mouthwatering flavors.This is one of the quick fix lunch box meal,highly protein rich one.Though I have tried making achari chana(chole) sometime back but this one is slightly different and makes one pot meal.I usually don't soak chana for this particular recipe as I always soak a cup extra for cooking chana masala and reserve the one cup of cooked chana in refrigerator.That way things become much easier for me.This pulao has the tanginess of mango pickle and infused with tid bits of cooked chana.We liked it with cucumber raitha and mint chuntey.You can use any desired raitha and devour happily !!

Quick fix rice recipes
Carrot Rice
Mushroom- Paneer Pulao
Quick Chicken Pulao
Egg Fried Rice
Tomato rice

Ingredients
basmati rice 1 1/2 cup
water 3 cups
garbanzo beans 3/4 cup
medium sized onion 1 sliced half moon
ginger garlic paste 2tsp
green chillies 3 vertical slit
bay leaves 2
mustard seeds 3/4 tsp
fennel seeds 3/4 tsp
cumin seeds 3/4 tsp
*kalonji seeds 3/4 tsp
fenugreek seeds  1/2 tsp
hing 1/4 tsp
turmeric powder 1/2 tsp
garam masala powder 2 tsp
mango pickle  1.5 tbsp
yogurt 1.5 tbsp
chilly powder 1tsp
salt to taste
ghee 2tbsp
mint leaves chopped  2tbsp
cilantro chopped  2tbsp

Method

• Wash and soak the basmati rice for 20 minutes- an hour.
• If you have cooked chana or store brought,can skip this step.Else,soak the chana in water for 6 hours or overnight and cook with enough water and salt for 3 whistles or till done in a pressure cooker.
• Heat a cooker and when its hot,add ghee to it.Add bay leaves,splutter mustard seeds,add in fennel seeds,kalonji seeds,fenugreek seeds.
• Add the sliced onion and saute till translucent.Add the green chillies,ginger garlic paste and saute till raw smell disappears.
• Blend the pickle in a blender coarsely so that the mango pieces are mashed well.Mix the pickle and yogurt together,with chilly powder.
• Add the hing and cooked chana,saute well.Add the mixed paste,turmeric powder and saute well for a minute.
• Add the soaked rice after draining water.Add water,salt and bring to a boil.Cover with a lid and let the rice cook on low medium flame.
• Fluff with a fork when its 3/4 th done.Add the chopped mint leaves and cilantro.
• Serve hot with a simple raitha !!

Servings ~ 3 adults

NOTES
* You can use any other achar /pickle to prepare this but mango tastes the best because of the tangy flavors infused.
* You can use oil for a less caloric version.
* I have not used kalonji seeds in the recipe.If you use the onion seeds,then feel free to add.
* You can even add fried raisins. 
* You can add boiled cubed potatoes too to make it even tastier.

Sending this to Nupur's MLLA #76 My Legume Love Affair