Anshu's Food Odyssey

I was craving for some pulao or biryani today but it had to be quick, chatpata and absolutely lip-smacking. The only recipe which fitted my imagination was this famous dish from the streets of Mumbai, the Tawa Pulao . Loaded with the goodness of assorted vegetables, tartness of tomatoes and spiciness of the pav bhaji masala, this street delicacy can be found being made on every Pav Bhaji stall in Mumbai on big large iron skillets and I guess, it is from there, where it gets it name from. Undoubtedly, this rice specialty finds a special place in the heart of every Mumbaikar and perfectly makes for a delightful one-pot meal option that can be relished anytime of the day. Plus, this pulao always come to the rescue of bachelors and singles who are looking forward to try their hands at something which is not only simple and faster to cook but, tastes delicious too. So, here I am with my version of this awesome recipe...make it and satisfy your cravings as I did....and yes, its not necess...

Zereshk or the Barberry Rice is a traditional Iranian dish typically made with aromatic saffron water, long grain Basmati rice and a whole lot of Zereshk or barberries (Iranian berries). Now, since its quite difficult to source the barberries, often people in other parts of the world make this pulao using dried cranberries which taste almost similar to the authentic Iranian berries (although, you do not get the same bright red color which a traditional Zereshk Polow exudes, the taste is still quite exceptional with a perfect balance of sweetness and sourness). Just in case, you are looking for a rice dish which is a little different from the typical Indian recipes, this delicacy is truly worth trying and is surely not gonna leave you disappointed. I first came across this amazing recipe by chef Varun Inamdar on Get Curried. The beautiful color and presentation of this dish took me in awe in just a matter of few seconds, and I instantly had this wonderful traditional Iranian delicac...