One-Pot Prawn & Black Rice Pulao For A Relaxed Dinner

Whether you’re still working from home, in hybrid mode, or working from office, I’m sure you are familiar with the lethargy that hits—and hits hard, to be honest—after work. In fact, even if you are a homemaker up since dawn and working constantly at home, you are familiar with this feeling. All you need during those moments is to get dinner handed to you in a bowl, just so you can have a moment’s peace with some delicious food. This one-pot Prawn and Black Rice Pulao is just for those times. 

Black rice, also known as forbidden rice, is very high in protein. It is so rich in antioxidants that eating it regularly is believed to reduce cholesterol levels, prevent heart disease, Alzheimer’s and other conditions too. Some studies even suggest that the anthocyanins in black rice can help reduce the risk of breast and colorectal cancers!  

But these aren’t the only reasons to try this Prawn and Black Rice Pulao. Black rice, when cooked right, has a nutty flavour that pairs well with a range of spices, vegetables, seafood and meat. Sometimes this rice variety looks dark purple rather than black, but whatever the final colour, this pulao looks vibrant and rich even if you put two or three ingredients in it. The best part, everything you need goes into one pot, one after the other, in some simple steps. This is a truly hassle-free one-pot recipe that you can rely on during the busiest of weekdays. In fact, it’s so pretty and delicious that you can even prepare it for your weekend brunch. 

I first tried this recipe almost six-seven years back on a day that had been very busy for our family of four. Being in Kolkata meant that getting fresh prawns was the easiest thing, ever, even at a time when home delivery systems weren’t in place. The recipe took around half an hour to whip up—but that’s perhaps because we hurried with the coarse chopping of veggies. The ultimate one-pot Prawn and Black Rice Pulao tasted so delicious that my family has since taken to cooking it on celebratory occasions too! Try this easy recipe tonight, and I’m sure you and your loved ones will feel the same. 

Ingredients: 

1.5 cups black rice, soaked overnight 

150 g prawns, shelled and cleaned 

1 tsp cumin seeds 

1 bay leaf 

2 cardamom pods 

1 cinnamon stick 

1 large onion, sliced 

1 carrot, chopped 

½ cup peas 

2 green chillies, chopped 

1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste 

Salt, to taste 

2 tbsp ghee 

3.5 cups water 

Method:

1. Heat the ghee in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. 

2. Add the cumin seeds, bay leaf, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick and let them splutter. 

3. Once they stop spluttering, add the onions and ginger-garlic paste. 

4. Let the onions brown, then add the green chillies, carrots and peas. 

5. Mix well, then add the prawns.  

6. Fry everything for two minutes, then add the rice. 

7. Saute the veggies, prawn and rice for 3-4 minutes, then add water. 

8. Cover the pot, keep the flame at a low, and let the Black Rice Pulao cook for 20 minutes or till the water dries out. 

9. Check the rice to ensure it is cooked. Serve the pulao hot with raita and chutney.