Whole Masoor Pulao

I had seen this delicious looking kichadi/pulao at Delicious Adventures which she said is a popular Maharashtrian dish.  I also saw another recipe - with a few variations at another site which stated a similar type of rice as a Pakistani dish.  And this dish here is probably a combination of the two.  And it was good.

Ingredients:
Basmati Rice - 1 cup *
Whole Masoor - 1/4 cup
Potato - 2 small to medium
Onion - 2
Red chilies - 4-5
Garlic - 4 pods
Ginger - 1/2 "
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Garam masala powder - 1/4 tsp
Cloves - 2 nos
Cinnamon - 1/2" bark
Star Anise - 2 nos
Salt to taste
Oil /Ghee- 2 tbsp
Coriander leaves for garnish

Soak the whole masoor overnight - or atleast for 4-5 hours.
Soak the rice for an hour and keep
Peel the potato and cut into medium sized cubes
Chop the onions.

Dry roast the red chilies and cumin and grind along with ginger - garlic. A little water can be added to make a medium smooth paste. Keep aside.

In the pressure cooker - cook rice with salt, cinnamon, clove and star anise till just done.
Cook the masoor till just done and also the potato pieces.
I put all the three in separator vessels in the cooker.  Just make sure you do not have too much water for both the rice and the masoor.  Usual cooking time of rice is enough for all the ingredients.

Take a pan, heat oil.  Add onions - keep till translucent.
Add the ground paste and fry a while
Then the masoor and potato.  Stir gently so that none of the ingredients get mashed.
Add turmeric, a little salt ( remember the rice is also cooked with salt), coriander powder
The mixture can be slightly moist for best results.
Divide into two portions

Take a microwave safe bowl ( this can be done in the oven also - use appropriate dish)
Put a layer of rice
Cover with the masoor mixture
And another layer of rice with another layer of masoor
Top with cooked rice.
Cover with a microwave safe lid and keep in the microwave for 2 minutes.

Gently mix with a fork
Garnish with coriander leaves.

Have with raitha. It is a meal by itself.

* I made it with plain rice.  I have also used oil sparingly and gone overboard with the garnishing :-)