Serves: 6
Total Calories: 134

1 1/4 cups basmati rice, , sorted and washed in 3 to 4 changes of water
2 1/3 cups water
1 teaspoon cumin seeds, dry-roasted and coarsely ground + 1 teaspoon
__Dry-Roasting Nuts and Seeds ..........Click the Edit tab and select this entry to learn more.
2 tablespoons peanut oil
4 whole dried red chili peppers, such as chile de arbol
2 cloves fresh garlic (large), thinly sliced
1 stick cinnamon (1-inch)
3 black cardamom pods, crushed lightly to break the skin
1/2 teaspoon , coarsely ground ajwain, seeds
2 cups , canned garbanzo beans, , drained and rinsed
1 1/2 cups extra-firm tofu, or paneer cheese, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
2 to 3 scallion, thinly sliced
1 small tomato, finely chopped

1. In a medium bowl, soak the rice in the water, about 30 minutes. Prepare 1 teaspoon cumin seeds.

2. Heat the oil in a large nonstick saucepan over medium-high heat and stir the red chili peppers, garlic, cinnamon, and cardamom pods, 1 minute. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and ajwain seeds, then mix in the chickpeas and cook until golden, about 3 minutes.

3. Add the tofu (or paneer cheese) and salt, and cook, stirring, another 2 minutes. Then mix in the rice with the water it was soaking in. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover the pan (partially at first, until the foam subsides, then snugly), and cook until the rice is done, about 10 to 15 minutes. Do not stir the rice while it cooks.

4. Remove from the heat and let the rice rest undisturbed about 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, then carefully mix in the scallions and tomatoes, sprinkle the dry-roasted cumin seeds on top, and serve.

From "1,000 Indian Recipes." Copyright 2002 by Neelam Batra. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Nutritional Facts:

Serves: 6
Total Calories: 134
Calories from Fat: 50

More Recipes from the 1000 Indian Recipes Cookbook:
* Rice
Basmati Pilaf with Caramelized Onions and Broccoli
Basmati Rice with Whole Spices
Basmati and Wild Rice Pilaf with Roasted Nuts
Boiled Basmati Rice
Brown Basmati Rice with Asafoetida
Coorgi Yogurt Rice
Corn, Peas, and Tomato Fried Rice
Cranberry Pilaf
Creamy Cracked Wheat with Mixed Lentils and Beans
Creamy Cracked Wheat, Rice, and Mung Beans
Creamy Rice and Mixed Vegetables with Spinach Ribbons
Creamy Rice and Split Mung Beans with Cumin Seeds
Garlic Shrimp Pilaf with Coconut Milk
Ginger-Mint Pilaf with Potatoes and Roasted Cumin Seeds
Goan Coconut Milk Pilaf
Grilled Bell Pepper Fried Rice
Hyderabadi Layered Rice with Cooked Chicken
Hyderabadi Layered Rice with Marinated Chicken
Hyderabadi Layered Rice with Mixed Vegetables
Kashmiri Mixed Vegetable Pilaf
Layered Rice with Eggplant and Coconut
Layered Rice with Fragrant Lamb Chops
Layered Rice with Fragrant Mixed Nuts and Saffron
Layered Rice with Lamb and Apricots
Lemon Rice
Long-Grain Rice with Roasted Peanuts
Madras-Style Spicy Eggplant Rice
Mixed Cauliflower Pilaf
Mixed Vegetable Pilaf
Moist Ground Lamb Pilaf
Morel Mushroom Pilaf with Pistachios and Silver Leaves
Pilaf-Style Rice and Yellow Mung Beans with Ginger
Pilaf-Style Tapioca Pearls
Potato, Coconut, and Yogurt Fried Rice
Pressed Rice Flakes with Peas and Potatoes
Pressed Rice Flakes with Tamarind
Punjabi Green Chickpea Pilaf
Quick Cilantro-Garlic Pilaf with Peas
Quick Soybean Pilaf
Roasted Fresh Fenugreek Leave Pilaf
Roasted Saffron Basmati Rice
Royal Fresh and Dried Fruit Pilaf
Savory Saffron and Almond Rice
Simple Cumin Basmati Rice
Simple Lamb Pilaf
South Indian Mustard and Asafoetida Pilaf
South Indian Sesame Rice
South Indian Tamarind Rice
Spicy Chicken Pilaf
Spicy North Indian Egg Curry
Spinach and Red Bell Pepper Pilaf
Steamed Basmati Rice (Absorption Method)
Steamed Basmati Rice with Dry-Roasted Spices
Steamed Green Basmati Rice
Steamed Turmeric and Red Peppercorn Basmati Rice
Stir-Fried Indian Vermicelli with Coconut and Vegetables
Stir-Fried Mushrooms and Red Chard Pilaf
Stir-Fried Spicy Semolina
Tangy South Indian Rice and Pigeon Peas
Tofu and Chickpea Pilaf
Yogurt and Cashew Rice