Dalia pulao recipe is a simple, hearty dish that never gets old. Broken wheat is essentially whole wheat that's been cracked into smaller pieces. It cooks more quickly than most grains and has a good earthy taste. When combined with fresh vegetables and a handful of common spices, it transforms into a hearty and delicious pulao.
To make this dalia recipe, the broken wheat is first lightly roasted in oil to deepen the flavour, then set aside. You can definitely skip this step, but roasting gives a nice nutty aroma and non-sticky texture. Add onions, green chillies, and curry leaves in the same cooker and add tomatoes and your choice of vegetables. Add water, place the dalia back in, and pressure cook for a few whistles.
This dalia pulao recipe can be easily incorporated into the daily diet, either as a morning meal, a lunch, or a light dinner. It's gentle on the gut, high in fibre, and keeps you full for longer. Prep the vegetables in advance for quick cooking on those busy days. If you have any leftovers, just refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to two days and reheat with a splash of water.
In a pressure cooker, heat 1 tsp of oil over medium heat. Add the broken wheat and roast it gently, stirring continuously, for about 1 minute until it gives off a nutty aroma. This will improve the taste and keep the dalia from getting mushy during cooking. When complete, place it on a plate and set aside.
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Step 2: Tempering the spices
In the same pressure cooker, add the remaining 2 tsp of oil. When the oil is hot, add cumin seeds. Allow them to sizzle and splutter for approximately 30 seconds.
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Step 3: Make the masala base
Add the curry leaves to the cumin-infused oil and let them crackle. Next, add the finely chopped onions and green chillies. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft and lightly golden. Then add chopped tomato and fry for another minute until it softens and mixes into the onion mixture.
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Step 4: Add the freshly chopped veggies
Add your mixed vegetables, such as French beans, carrots, capsicum, and green peas, to the cooker along with the masala mixture. Mix thoroughly and cook on medium heat for 1–2 minutes. Allow spices to coat the vegetables.
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Step 5: Pressure cook the dalia
Add 2 cups of water and salt to taste. Stir well to combine. Add roasted dalia to the cooker and gently stir. Secure the lid and simmer over medium heat for 4-5 whistles (about 10 minutes). Take the cooker off the flame and let the pressure release naturally.
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Step 6: Final touch
Once the lid is open, fluff the pulao gently with a fork. Pour the lime juice evenly over and toss lightly. Let the lime work its magic by brightening the flavours and perfectly balancing the spice.