Tawa Pulao Recipe

Tawa Pulao is a popular Mumbai street food that is made by sauteing vegetables and rice with pav bhaji masala. Tawa pulao is cooked on the same tawa, pav bhaji masala is made and is quite simple to make with leftover rice. Learn to make Tawa Pulao with step by step pictures and video.

Tawa pulao is simple and easy to make if you have leftover bhaji & cooked rice. Tawa Pulao requires slightly more effort if you want to bhaji & rice from scratch – however it is worth the effort for its taste!

Jump to:

• What is Tawa Pulao?
• Tawa Pulao Video
• Tawa Pulao Ingredients
• How to make Tawa Pulao
• Expert Tips
• Serving & Storage
• FAQS
• 📖 Recipe Card

What is Tawa Pulao?

Tawa means the concave big pan that is used for making pav bhaji masala in the chat shops. Pulao means cooked rice seasoned with spices. Tawa Pulao is therefore the rice seasoned with pav bhaji masala and spices in a tawa. 

Tawa Pulao is a street food special dish. The street vendors use a large tawa for making pav bhaji masala, tawa pulao, tawa paneer etc. But you can use any kadai or fry pan for making this pulao.

Tawa pulao is a unique variation to the usual pulao and we totally love the combo with onion raita. Tawa Pulao has become one of the weekend special that I make once in a month.

The star ingredient of this pulao is Pav Bhaji Masala Powder – so I posted Pav Bhaji Masala Powder recipe first. I was happy that it turned very flavorful that tasted out of the world. Do try it when you have time & if you wish to explore and try experiments in the kitchen.

I could not hold myself further with the Tawa Pulao and here we go with the recipe that brings the street food memories at home from our kitchen! This is one of the tasty rice recipes that you can make with leftover rice.

I sometimes make Empty Tawa Pulao. Just skip the veggies in the recipe given for making Empty Tawa Pulao. Believe me, tawa pulao tastes good with the bhaji masala without veggies as well!

Tawa Pulao Video

Tawa Pulao Ingredients

• Rice : Its basmati rice that is hands down the best when it comes to pulao, fried rice or dum biryani! However alternatively you can use Ponni Boiled rice or Sonamasoori. Slightly under cook the rice as it gets perfect when we simmer it again with the masala & veggies.
• Butter, Oil – Both butter and oil is used for cooking this pulao.
• Tempering – Cumin seeds is used for tempering in butter, oil. Ginger garlic paste is added for flavor.
• Vegetables – I have used onion, tomato, capsicum that is raw and cooked carrot, peas and potato.
• Spice powders – Turmeric powder, red chili powder and pav bhaji masala powder is used for this pulao.
• Lemon – Lemon juice gives a tangy taste to the pulao.
• Coriander leaves – Coriander leaves is added for garnish.

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How to make Tawa Pulao

Cooking rice

1.Cook rice in the ratio 1(rice) : 2(water) in a pressure cooker. Check detailed post on how to cook basmati rice here.

2.Spread it over a plate to cool down. Set aside. Measure 1 and 1/2 cups cooked rice and set it aside.

Preparing the masala

3.Steam cook or pressure cook the vegetables for 1 whistle,drain water and keep aside. Heat 1 tablespoon butter, 1 teaspoon oil in a tawa.

4.Add 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds allow it to crackle. Then add 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste, saute till golden.

5.Then add 1/2 cup chopped onion along with salt saute until transparent.

6.Add 1/2 cup tomatoes(chopped), 1/2 cup capsicum(chopped).

7.Saute for 3 minutes. Then using a potato masher mash it up.

8.Onion tomato should be mushy and raw smell should leave completely. Do not add water.

Adding spice powders

9.Add 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder, and 1 teaspoon pav bhaji masala powder.

10.Saute till the spice powder is mixed well. Make sure not to burn the spice powders so quickly saute.

Adding vegetables

11.Add 1 cup cooked vegetables. I have used carrot, peas and potato.

12.Saute well until the veggies are coated well.

Adding cooked rice

13.Add 1 and 1/2 cups cooked rice.

Tossing well

14.Mix well.

15.Be gentle while mixing do not break the rice. Mix well until the veggies and masalas are evenly coated.

Garnish

16.Finally add 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon coriander leaves and switch off.

Tawa Pulao is ready!

Expert Tips

• Rice – Soak the rice for 20 minutes then pressure cook the rice for 3 whistles with 1(rice) : 2 cups(water) so that rice is cooked with grains separated.
• Vegetables – Make sure the veggies are not overcooked and mushy. You can either pressure cook the vegetables for 1 whistle or steam cook them. Steam cooking is the best option. I have used carrot, peas and potato. You can even use cauliflower, beans etc.
• Do not cut the vegetable too small as they might get mushy while steaming.
• Raita is the best combination for this tawa pulao – however you can use curd & pickle as well. You can even serve it with chopped raw onion and lemon wedge.
• Onion, tomato and capsicum should be cooked well without the raw smell of tomatoes and should be mushy.
• If you feel the rice is dry after mixing add 1 tbsp butter extra and mix it.
• This recipe is medium spicy, so increase the red chilli powder if you wish it more spicy.
• You can skip the vegetables to make it Empty Tawa Pulao.

Serving & Storage

Tawa Pulao tastes best hot & with time! It is a good choice for lunch box and travel. Tawa Pulao can be refrigerated for use next day. Reheat and serve when you go for another round or use later.

Enjoy Tawa Pulao with any raita – onion, cucumber, pineapple,etc or plain yogurt! My friend enjoys it even with pickle so try it and continue if you like the combo!

FAQS

1.What type of cookware is best?

Traditionally in shops they use the dosa tawa used for making pav bhaji masala to make this pulao too. But you can use any flat surfaced pan for making it.

2.Why is my pulao sticky / lumpy?

It means the pulao is over cooked – either the rice or vegetables or both. Slightly undercook them so that when we finally simmer, the pulao is perfect!

3.How do you make Empty Tawa Pulao?

Skip the veggies in the recipe prescribed above for tasty Empty Tawa Pulao!

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