Soak the basmati rice in some water for 20 minutes, drain and rinse. Cook in 960ml of boiling water with 1 teaspoon sea salt until absorbed and just cooked – the grains should be firm.
For the coriander paste, grind all the ingredients together with little water.
Heat the oil for tempering and roast the chana dal and urad dal until golden brown. Add the curry leaves and asafoetida and mix well. Now add the ground coriander paste and blend well adding enough salt. Throw in the green peas and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes. Switch off the heat and mix in the rice while the paste is still hot.
Garnish with cashew nuts and chopped coriander leaves.
For the Coriander Paste:
For Tempering:
A few Curry leaves
For Garnish: