1. | Grind into a paste ginger, garlic and chillies, gradually adding 2 tbsp/30 ml water. |
2. | In a small bowl, stir saffron and milk. Keep aside. |
3. | Pour 5 cups/1.2 litres water in cooker. Bring to boil on high heat with lid closed without the vent weight. Open cooker. Add salt (2½ tsp/12.5 ml), cardamoms, cloves, bay leaves, cinnamon and rice. Stir. |
4. | Bring to boil in open cooker body. Reduce heat to medium. Place lid on top of the mouth of cooker body such that there is a gap of about 3/8 inch/1 cm from the edge of the lid to the cooker body near the subsidiary handle (see sketch below). Cook till rice just turns opaque (about 5 minutes). |
5. | Remove lid. Remove cooker from heat. Immediately transfer rice to a colander and drain. Wash and wipe dry cooker. |
6. | Heat ¼ cup/60 ml ghee in cooker about 2 minutes. Add onions and fry till golden brown. Add ginger paste. Stir a few seconds. Add potatoes and cauliflower. Stir and fry about 3 minutes. Add beans, carrots and peas. Stir and fry about 2 minutes. Add red chilli, cumin and garam masala powders. Mix. Add tomatoes, coriander and mint leaves, lemon juice and remaining salt (2½ tsp/12.5 ml). Fry about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add paneer. Mix gently. Add remaining water (1 cup/240 ml). Stir. |
7. | Remove cooker from heat. Place rice evenly on vegetables. Dribble saffron milk over rice. |
8. | In a small pan, heat remaining ghee (1 tbsp/15 ml) on medium heat about 2 minutes. Add cumin seeds. When cumin seeds begin to darken, immediately pour over rice in cooker. |
9. | Close cooker. Bring to full pressure on high heat on gas/on medium-high heat on induction cooktop. Reduce heat and cook 3 minutes. |
10. | Remove cooker from heat. Allow to cool naturally 5 minutes. Release pressure with slight lifting of vent weight. |
11. | Open cooker. Place rice on a serving dish. Put vegetables and gravy on rice. Garnish with almonds and mint leaves. |
12. | Serve hot with butter or curds. |