Basanti Pulao is fluffy, aromatic, sweetened with sugar, studded with cashew, raisins and cooked with ghee. It’s a special occasion rice dish and the mild sweetness pairs perfectly alongside a spicy curry. Bansanti Pulao is often referred to as mishti pulao.
Gobindo Bhog for Basanti Pulao
In Bengali cuisine, typically all special rice dishes are prepared using Gobindo Bhog Rice Grain. It’s a special variety of short grain rice that a perfumy aroma even when you sniff it raw. If you cannot find Gobindo Bhog rice, go ahead any use any short grain rice for this Basanti Pulao or Misti Pulao. You can use kalijeera rice too.
Ingredients for Basanti Pulao/ Sweet Yellow Rice
Non-sticky short grain riceGhee - Key to a flavor packed aromatic Misti Pulao is ghee. Avoid with oilCashewRaisinsTurmeric - Turmeric is used to prepare Basanti Pulao and not saffron. The flavor blend of ghee with gobindo bhog rice works beautifully and saffron get a little overpower! You can however definitely use saffron if you want.Sugar – We don’t like Basanti Pulao overly sweet. But you can feel free to add more.SaltGreen chili – Fresh green chili are added at the end just for flavor.Spices - Bay leaves, cloves, green cardamoms and Bengali Bhaja Moshla. Recipe link for Bengali Bhaja Moshla
Key Points to remember
Wash the rice several times to remove all the excess starch.Let the washed rice air dry for a while before you marinate it.Once the rice it cooked, use a fork to fluff to avoid it from getting mushy.Add sugar ONLY AFTER the rice is cooked completely.
How to serve Basanti Pulao/ Mishti Pulao
Because the rice is sweet pilaf, it is best served with a spicy curry on the side. Kosha Mangsho Mutton Nihari Dimer Kalia Begun Bhaja
Preparing in Instapot:
You can definitely prepare Basanti Pulao in Instapot. Just follow the exact same step and depending on your electric pressure cooker, cook at rice mode. Then switch off the pot, release the steam and fluff before adding the sugar. Having said that, the rice is amazing on its own too. It is comforting, with beautiful fluffy texture laden with the aroma of ghee.
