Authentic Matar Pulao Recipe | Simple, Flavourful Pea Pilaf for All Occasions

Introduction to this Matar Pulao Recipe

Matar Pulao, a fragrant and wholesome rice dish, has been a staple in South Asian kitchens for generations. Its simplicity and flavour make it a go-to recipe for festive occasions and everyday meals alike.

Matar Pilau is a popular dish in South Asian cuisine, particularly in Pakistan. The dish is essentially a rice pilaf infused with peas (matar in Urdu). Rice dishes and pilafs have a long-standing tradition in the region. The green peas add a subtle sweetness to the rice, they also add to the visual allure of the dish.

I used to make this this matar pulao recipe a lot when I started weaning my children. This was a great meal, soft rice with soft peas for babies to practice chewing on. Opt for long-grain basmati rice for the fluffiest pilaf

Why this Matar Pulao recipe is a Perfect Side Dish

Matar Pilau is the perfect side dish because it complements a variety of main courses with its subtle yet flavorful combination of fragrant basmati rice and sweet green peas. Its light seasoning allows it to balance rich and spicy dishes, while its simplicity makes it a crowd-pleaser. Whether served alongside curries, grilled meats, or vegetable dishes, Matar Pilau adds a touch of elegance and texture to any meal. Plus, it’s easy to prepare and versatile, making it ideal for both everyday meals and festive occasions.

This authentic pilaf recipe is so easy to prepare, you need a few basic ingredients and it has minimal cooking time. This makes it a convenient option for busy weeknights or for serving at a dinner party.

Matar pilau also freezes very well for up to three months. When you want to eat it, let it defrost overnight in the fridge.

Matar pulao makes a great option for those looking to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diet, which I often try to do now for my family for health and environmentally reasons. It also is obviously a great easy pea rice for vegetarians! This rice can be served as a main dish or as a side dish with curries, grilled meats such as lamb chops and kebabs or other vegetarian dishes.

How I eat this Authentic Pilaf Recipe

Matar pilau is the perfect back drop to many dishes. You can’t go wrong with this easy pea rice dish, the children love it; it’s a great way to get peas into them. I always like to serve pilau with a yoghurt condiment, such as cucumber raita or boondi raita.

It’s quicker to make than chicken pilau. This is because you do not need to make a separate broth, however it doesn’t mean there’s less flavour. The whole spices are essential for any pilau dish, do not be tempted to use ground spices. Also, it’s key to get a good dark brown colour on the onions. This adds to the flavour of the rice and the colour once cooked. The addition of tomatoes is optional, some would say an authentic pilau dish does not have tomatoes. However, I say why not, if it tastes good!

I also love to have this authentic pilaf recipe with various dishes, such as chicken legs, tuna cakes, and kofta curry. There’s really not much you can’t pair it up with. It makes a great side dish. I always like to serve my pulao’s with some boondi raita, it makes the perfect condiment to a rice dish.

Versatility of this easy pea rice

You can really add most things to the rice, instead of peas. Tinned chickpeas, potatoes or frozen mixed vegetables all work really well. Some people add carrots, potatoes, or bell peppers to the dish for extra flavour and texture, while others prefer to keep it simple with just rice and peas. Just add what you want at step 4 instead of the peas and enjoy!

You can also adjust spices like cloves and cinnamon to match your taste preference. If you want to add in some protein, you could add paneer cubes, cooked chicken, or shrimp for a heartier meal.

See my video on Instagram or TikTok to see how to make this dish! Have you tried this recipe? Share your tweaks or serving ideas in the comments below!

Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking this Easy Pea Rice

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 onions sliced
• 1750ml water (5 mugs)
• 800 grams basmati rice (3 mugs)
• 235 grams frozen peas
• 2 green chillies sliced down the middle (optional)
• 1 tomato, roughly chopped (optional)

Spices

• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 tablespoon of coriander seeds
• 5 cloves
• 5 black peppercorns
• 3 cardamom pods
• 1 cinnamon bark
• 2 black cardamom pods

Method to making this Authentic Pilaf Recipe

1. Firstly wash the rice until the water runs clear and leave to soak in cold water. Soak for at least 30 minutes. The longer you leave the rice to soak, the quicker it will cook.

2. PREPARE THE BASE- Heat 4 tablespoons of oil in a large sauce pan. Then add the onions and brown  You will need to brown the onions until they are a dark brown, the colour of the browned onions dictates the colour of the pilau rice. The darker the onions, the richer the colour of the rice. If the onions start to stick to the pan, add small splashes of water.

3. Once the onions are browned, add the water and all the spices. Stir through. Next, bring the water to boil. Turn the oven on at 100C, fan assisted. 

4. COOK THE RICE- Next add the rice and peas (green chillies and tomato if using) to the water and stir. Then cover with the pan lid and turn the heat down to low. Keep checking the how the rice is cooking, once the water had nearly dried out put the pan in the oven for “dham”/ steaming for 30 minutes. You can alternatively do the steaming on the hob, turn the heat to the lowest setting and cover the pan with a thin tea towel and then put the pan lid on top.

Serve with yoghurt/raita and enjoy!