Monday, March 3, 2014

Semiya Pulav / Semiya Pulao / Vermicelli Pilaf

Cleaning up the pantry could give you ideas - sometimes weird that you regret and sometimes useful ones that you are glad you went by it. While I was cleaning up and organizing the pantry, I found a pack of semiya/vermicelli left unattended for so long. I wanted to use it up as quickly as I can, with its expiry date approaching soon. 


Now that Semiya Kheer was not a good option to finish off that amount of Semiya, I started breaking my head thinking how could I not waste the semiya but put to good use by cooking something that would be appreciated by both of us.




So this Pulav was what came to my mind, to have during tea time. We absolutely love it. Unlike rice pulav, a side is not a must. That makes it even more quicker to make without giving another thought of what should go as a side with it.

                                      


Ingredients

  1. 2 cups of Semiya /vermicelli
  2. 1 cup of red onion, thin sliced
  3. 1 1/2 cup of carrots, cut into small strips
  4. 1 1/2 cup of green beans, slit and cut into small strips
  5. 3 tbsp of ghee/clarified butter
  6. Cashews and rasins for garnishing
  7. 2 1/2 cup of water
  8. Salt to taste 

Method
  • Heat a skillet. Add a tbsp of ghee to it. Roast the cashew and raisins in it and remove it onto a bowl.
  • Now drop in the onions and add salt to taste. Adjust the heat and stir it and cook it untill the onion gets tender. Remove it onto a bowl. 
  • In the same skillet, add a tbsp of ghee. Add the carrots, beans and salt to taste. Adjust the heat and stir fry untill they are half done. Remove it on to a bowl.
  • Again, add a tbsp of ghee and once hot, add the semiya/vermicelli to it and roast it untill they turn golden brown. Do not burn it or over roast it. Add the cooked onion, carrots and beans to it and give it a mix. Add water and salt to it(salt was already added for onion, carrot and beans when we cooked it, so adding just a little considering the amount of semiya/vermicelli would be enough). Let it come to a boil. Stir it and lower the heat to medium. Let it cook for about 5-8 minutes or untill the water evaporates and the semiya/vermicelli gets cooked, while you stir at intervals. Once done toss it with a fork.
  • Remove it on to a serving plate and garnish it with roasted cashews and raisins. Serve it hot with some raita. Its super yummy for the little effort that goes into it.

Tips
  1. You could cut down the amount of ghee by cooking the carrot,beans and onion in olive oil and restricting the use of ghee/clarified butter for roasting the raisins,cashews and semiya.
  2. Do not over cook the semiya, else they might get all mushy.
  3. I love the flavor of semiya roasted in ghee that adds on to the taste. Moreover, without a little ghee what would Pulav/Pilaf taste like :).  However, you get roasted semiya which you could buy to avoid the roasting of semiya.
  4. You could add some green peas too, to make it colourful and tasty.


I still have some more semiya left, which I am still thinking what to create out of it, which does include some weird ideas as well :P. So pardon me if you see another post with Semiya. Oh, don't worry, I might share the story of how the weird idea turned out to be, but would post the recipes of only the ones that come out well :) .




30 comments:

  1. Easy and quick meal for any time. I have to try this especially during this lent period :)

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    Replies
    1. oh ya...its perfect for lent :).. a change from the usual kanji and payar :P

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  2. Yz this is a great idea......which doesn't take much time and effort, and gives a delicious and flavorful dish......

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  3. Pulav looks delicious and one of my favorite too :-) Semiya uppma is another I make very often

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    Replies
    1. oh ya ..semiya upma used to be made frequent here for breakfast and then we got bored..its been a while...I think I should made it again...:)

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  4. pulav looks so interesting.. one of my fav too

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  5. Adipoli, I am semiya uppma with all add ons.

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  6. This reminds me that I too have a packet lying untouched! Semiya pulao looks delicious.

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    Replies
    1. I say you should make it...its an easy recipe to impress family without too much of an effort involved :P

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  7. Delicious pulao and easy to make too. Nice post.

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  8. Yummy Pulao. Nice and tasty. Nuts adds crunch and texture to this recipe.

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  9. love ur version of the pulao... i cook the semiya, drain it and then add it to the masala for less risk! ;) i love cleaning up my pantry if it allows me some new ideas, but if it is for throwing away expired goods, then not good...

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    Replies
    1. oh ya that is less risky...

      It broke my heart when I had to throw away some other stuff while cleaning the pantry bcoz they had crossed the expiry date, so when I came across this semiya packet, I was so determined to use it up without wasting even a little.

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  10. Pulao looks super delicious...... my fav ! B'ful clicks too :)

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  11. Pulav looks really yummy dear..

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  12. I put a comment yday within 3 minutes of ur posting looks like u did not get it came to check ur reply :))
    We call it upma may be thats why there has not been any demand for it .Should give it a face lift and try this one.I am sure there is a lot in the name too.

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    Replies
    1. hmm....blogger has been acting weird...I don't get to c other blog updates in my reading list for a day or two post their posting it...now is the commenting part also at glitch? ur comment didn't come to me keto..

      ahh..peril entha ennoke parayum ..pakshe fancy peru ettu kodukku, it will be so much in demand I say...I make upma too with semiya, but like the name is not appreciated by many, it is not that good looking too... without veggies and may be just tomato and some urad dal that goes into it....dirudhi pidiche breakfast ondakkunna divasam, I may not be that patient to cut the veggies and saute it separate and stuff... Pinne oru bhangikke raisins eedum..like u said to give a face lift :D....

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  13. Pulao Looks delicious... It is one of our fav dishes..

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  14. Just showed this pic to my son and said that I'll make this for him for lunch. He looked at me with a raised eyebrow and said semiya upma???, I said, no this is pulao, its going to be yummy!! He said, ok go on but please don't put those veggies in it!!! Now, what should I do with him. Whatever said, I really loved this new version of semiya and will surely try it out in one of the following days.

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  15. You will soon master the art of making simple food look so appealing ! The brown backdrop gives so much of edge to the centre food.. very well clicked Anupa !

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  16. I can start my day with this colourful,delicious semiya pulao..inviting..

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  17. anupa, semiya pulav looks so delicious ....beautiful pic to accompany it.

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