Tawa Pulao Recipe | Mumbai Street-Style Veg Rice
“✨ A spicy, colorful street-style rice tossed on a hot tawa with pav bhaji masala and mixed vegetables — pure Mumbai magic! ✨”
Tawa Pulao is a popular Mumbai street food rice dish made using leftover basmati rice, mixed vegetables, butter/ghee, and bold spices.
Unlike regular pulao, this dish is cooked on a wide tawa or heavy kadai, allowing each grain of rice to absorb the intense masala flavors. Perfect for quick lunches, dinner, or lunchbox meals.
🛒 Ingredients
For the Pulao
- Basmati rice – 1 cup (soaked 30 min, cooked & cooled)
- Onion – 2–3 (finely chopped)
- Tomato – 3 (finely chopped)
- Beans – 250–300 g (finely chopped)
- Carrot – 150 g (finely chopped)
- Capsicum – 1 (chopped)
- Green peas – ¼ cup
- Potato – 1–2 medium (finely chopped)
- Green chili – 2 (slit)
- Ginger – 1–1½ inch (crushed)
- Garlic – 4–5 cloves (crushed)
- Mint leaves – handful (chopped)
- Coriander leaves – handful (chopped)
- Salt – as needed
- Oil – 1 tbsp
- Ghee / Butter – 2 tbsp
Whole Spices
- Cloves – 2–3
- Cinnamon stick – 1 inch
- Star anise – 1
- Bay leaf – 1–2
- Kalpasi (Stone flower) – small piece
Spice Powders
- Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
- Coriander powder – 1 tsp
- Pav bhaji masala – 1½ tsp
- Garam masala – 1 tsp
- Hing – a pinch
👩🍳 Instructions
Heat the Tawa
- Heat a wide tawa or heavy kadai. Add oil and ghee.
Saute Whole Spices
- Add cloves, cinnamon, star anise, bay leaf, and kalpasi. Saute until aromatic.
Prepare Masala Base
- Add green chilies and onions. Saute until light golden.
- Add ginger and garlic. Cook until raw smell disappears.
- Add tomatoes and cook until soft.
Add Spice Powders
- Add turmeric, coriander, pav bhaji masala, garam masala, hing, and salt.
- Mix well, cover, and cook 3–4 minutes until oil releases.
Cook Vegetables
- Add beans, carrot, capsicum, peas, and potato.
- Cover and cook 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add Herbs
- Add mint and coriander leaves.
- Cook 5 minutes on medium flame to remove excess moisture.
Add Rice
- Add cooked, cooled basmati rice.
- Mix gently and adjust salt if needed.
Final Cooking
- Cook on medium-low flame for 10–15 minutes, stirring gently so rice absorbs all flavors.
🌟 Tips
- ✅ Use cooled or leftover rice to prevent mushy texture
- ✅ Wide tawa gives authentic street-style flavor
- ✅ Cook rice for at least 10 minutes after mixing
- ✅ Butter or ghee enhances Mumbai-style taste
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- Serve hot with onion raita, plain curd, lemon wedges, or buttered pav
- Perfect for lunchbox meals and quick dinners
💪 Nutritional Benefits
Vegetables – High in fiber, vitamins, and minerals
Basmati Rice – Light, aromatic energy source
Spices & Herbs – Aid digestion and metabolism
👉 Tawa Pulao is a spicy, satisfying, and comforting street-style rice dish that turns leftover rice into a flavorful feast.
🎥 Video
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