Matar Pulaao (Green Pea Pilaf)

Ingredients:

• Green peas - 2 cups
• Oil - 5, 6 tbsp
• Basmati rice - 2.5 cups, soaked for 30 minutes
• Ginger - 2" piece, chopped
• Onion - 1/2, medium, sliced
• Tomato - 1 chopped finely
• Cumin (whole) - 1 tsp, whole
• Black cumin (whole) - 3/4 tsp (OPTIONAL)
• Big cardamom - 2, opened
• Clove - 4, 5
• Cinnamon stick - 2" piece
• Black peppers whole - 1 tsp
• Salt - 2 tsp
• Red chili powder - 1 tsp (optional)
• Green chillies - 5, 6 whole

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 376 F.
   
2. Heat oil. Fry onions until golden. Add cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, clove and big cardamom. Fry for a minute or two. Add ginger and tomato. Fry until tomatoes are mashed into a chunky sauce.
   
3. Add peas. Fry for a few more minutes (5-10). Add 4.5 cups of water. When it comes to a boil, add drained rice and green chillies.
4. Cover and cook on medium low heat until the rice is cooked (~25 minutes). Stir gently a couple of times while it's cooking.
5. Sprinkle black cumin on top of the rice, cover, and put the pot in the oven for 15 minutes.

* Serve with chutney, salad, and pickles.

Chutney (Spicy Desi sauce):

Blend together: 1 tomato, 1 clove of garlic, 4, 5 green chillies, 1/2 tsp salt, 1.5 tsp red chili powder until it forms a puree.