Tawa pulao is popular Mumbai street food. Learn how to make mouthwatering tawa pulao at home using this easy recipe. You will love this easy and ultra vibrant rice recipe!
Cooked white rice, colorful vegetables and pav bhaji masala is all you need to whip up this scrumptious recipe. This recipe is also called as Tava Pulav, Pav Bhaji Rice or Tawa Pilaf.
THE RECIPE CARD IS LOCATED TOWARDS THE END. Amazon affiliate link disclosure is below as well. Before scrolling to the recipe card, do check the HELPFUL RECIPE TIPS in the post.
I am including instructions to make Tawa Pulao at home using stovetop method as well as electric pressure cooker like Instant Pot method.
YOU WILL LOVE THIS FLAVORFUL RICE RECIPE BECAUSE
- It is quick and easy
- Gluten free, vegan, soy and dairy free
- It is perfect meal prep for lunches, weeknight dinner as well as party menu.
- A popular crowd pleaser, you will love the colorful and flavorsome rice entrée.
- An ideal recipe to use leftover rice.
- It is filling, wholesome and delicious and inexpensive.
INDIAN STREET FOOD MADE EASY
Indian street food and its glorious reputation! There is nothing quite like it and no words can properly describe the cornucopia of flavors, tastes and varieties cooked and sold on the street across India.
Tawa pulao recipe believed to be originated on the streets of Mumbai ( previously Bombay) Now coveted by all the mumbaiets and alike, this lip smacking yummy rice is one of our favorite.
We have vibrant and easy to make Pav Bhaji recipe on the blog. It is our family favorite. You can use leftover pav bhaji, leftover rice and mix them together to make easy tawa pulao. It is the best makeover of leftovers!
WHAT IS TAWA PULAO
Tawa is an Cast Iron Griddle that is typically used in making roti or paratha or dosa. Pulao or pilaf is rice cooked with veggies so the literally meaning of Tawa Pulao is Rice and veggies cooked on iron griddle.
To make vegan tawa pulao, you mix cooked white rice with sautéed vegetables with some spices and pav bhaji masala. All this gets cooked on iron griddle or tawa for rustic char and earthy flavors.
The sizzling noise of grilled veggies and tantalizing aroma of intense flavors... just too good !
TAWA PULAO INGREDIENTS
Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here's a brief blurb about what goes in making this savory rice recipe.
: Precooked and cooled rice works best
: This Indian spice mix is full of Indian spices. Cassia , cloves, fennel and cumin seeds, dry mango are main ingredients. I have included Amazon affiliate link for my favorite brand.
- Colorful veggies like capsicum (bell peppers, onions and tomatoes)
- Red Chili Powder
- Ginger garlic Paste
- Cooking Oil
- Lemon juice and cilantro for garnish
- Salt per taste
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
My favorite pairing is Creamy Potato Raita ( potato salad) , cucumber and onion slices and lemon wedges. To wash it down, a chilled glass of Mattha - spiced Indian buttermilk is heavenly.
Another fun and healthy serving idea is to make lettuce wraps with it. Use butter lettuce cups and fill them with this colorful crisp and spicy rice. You will love the fusion take on classic recipe.
SAMPLE INDIAN DINNER PARTY MEANU
I often use this spicy vegetarian rice recipe for parties and potlucks. Here is my sample dinner party menu that is crowd pleaser and easy to prepare.
- Paneer Tacos
- Ragda Patties
- Punjabi Chole
- Chickpea Coconut Curry
- Baby Corn Masala
- Gajar Halwa
- Mukhwas Kulfi
How to make Mumbai Street Style Tawa Pulao Recipe
- You start off with cooked rice. You can use leftover rice or freshly made. Fluffier the rice, better the texture so cook rice in 1:1.5 water ratio.
- Then you make the masala by sautéing onions and tomatoes with ginger garlic paste and pav bhaji masala.
- You can add vegetables of your choice. I have used colorful peppers for nice crunch and beautiful looks. You can use carrots, cauliflower, French green beans, green peas and sweet baby corn too.
- Gently fold in cooked rice with the veggie masala mix. Mix well but don't overmix so the coked rice doesn't get mushy. Garnish with chopped cilantro leaves and serve warm.
HOW TO MAKE TAWA PULAO IN INSTANT POT
Last few years I have been making Tawa pulao using electric pressure cooker like Instant Pot. Cooking rice in Instant Pot is easiest and hands off so I love using this method also. However, I prefer to cook the veggies separately and mix them later after rice is cooked.
I prefer a little crunch to my veggies instead of mushy. One extra step and 5-10 extra minutes do add good texture to this dish. So, I highly recommend you do it too.
Don’t forget to follow us on PINTEREST and like our FACEBOOK page. We love creating delicious , plant based recipes from around the world. DO JOIN US !!
We would love to hear your feedback!! Use the PIN button in the recipe card or image below to pin this recipe !
★ If you make this Tawa Pulao Recipe, do let us know how you like it by ★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. We would love to hear your feedback.
📖 Recipe
Mumbai Street Food Style Tawa Pulao - Instant Pot Option
Ingredients
For Making Rice
- 1 cup long grain basmati rice rinse and washed
- 1.5 cup water
For Making Pulao Vegetable Mixture
- 2 tsp. oil divided
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- 2 medium tomatoes thinly chopped
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup chopped bell pepper capsicum
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste - divided
- ½ teaspoon kashmiri red chili powder- divided
- 2 teaspoons pav bhaji masala - divided
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 4 tablespoon finely chopped cilantro leaves
- Salt as required
Instructions
To make the rice
- Rinse and wash the basmati rice well.
- In a heavy bottom sauce pan, heat oil on medium heat. Add half of ginger garlic paste, red chili powder and pav bhaji masala and saute for about 1 minute. Add tomato sauce and stir well.
- Add washed rice. Add water . Give it a good stir. Season with salt.
- Raise the heat. Bring the water to boil on high heat. Let it continue to boil til 80 % water is evaporated.
- Lower the heat, cover the pot and let it cook for another 10 minutes. Rice morsels should be soft and tender and puffy.
- Turn off the heat and let it stay for 10 minutes covered. Fluff it with fork and your rice is ready.
To make the veggies mixture
- Heat the oil on the tawa or wok.
- Add the onions and saute until onions become translucent.
- Add ginger-garlic paste and saute until raw smell goes.
- Add chopped tomatoes and salt. Let the tomatoes cook until mushy. Saute in between.
- Add half of pav bhaji masala and red chili powder. Saute for a minute. You should sense the aroma.
- Add chopped vegetables and saute for 2-3 minutes. Vegetable masala mixture is ready!
- Add the cooked rice. Carefully fold everything so the veggi masala mixture coats the rice.
- Cover and cook over low flame for 1-2 minutes. Turn off the heat. Then remove the cover and gently fluff the rice.
- Drizzle lemon juice and sprinkle chopped coriander leaves. Tawa pulao is ready to serve. Serve hot.
Instant Pot instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot on SAUTE mode. Add oil. Add the onions and saute until onions become translucent.
- Add ginger-garlic paste and saute until raw smell goes.
- Add chopped tomatoes and salt. Let the tomatoes cook until mushy. Saute in between.
- Add half of pav bhaji masala and red chili powder. Saute for a minute. You should sense the aroma.
- Add chopped vegetables and saute for 2-3 minutes. Vegetable masala mixture is ready!
- Cancel SAUTE mode. Using the spatula, remove the mixture on the plate and keep it aside.
- Put the inner pot back in the InstantPot. Start it on SAUTE and add oil. Add rest of the pav bhaji masala, ginger garlic paste and red chili powder. Saute for a minute til it sizzles. Add tomato sauce and let it cook for another minute.
- Add rice and give the mixture a good stir. Add water. Mix well. Make sure to deglaze the bottom.
- Cancel SAUTE. Close the lid of the InstantPot. Choose MANUAL and choose 5 minutes.
- It will take about 7-8 minutes for IP to kick in. Once the timer goes off after cooking, wait for few minutes and do QPR (quick pressure release). Once the safety valve drops down, open the lid.
- Put in the veggi masala mixture over the cooked rice. Carefully fold everything so the veggi masala mixture coats the rice. Your tawa pulao is ready!
- Drizzle the lemon juice and sprinkle chopped cilantro leaves over and serve warm.
Nutrition
Leave a Reply