Beetroot rice recipe with step by step photos – easy lunch idea recipe of beetroot rice or beetroot pulao made with rice, finely chopped beetroots, onions, herbs and spices. Gluten-free and vegan recipe.
As I have mentioned in my previous posts, rice-based dishes are my go-to cook recipes. They get done quickly and taste good too.
I often make Pulao recipe with mixed veggies or with just one veggie. In this recipe, its only beetroot that is used and is a highlight of this dish.
However if you want to add more veggies then you can add potato, peas and carrots. Some greens like spinach or fenugreek leaves can also be added in small amount. Carrots and beetroots go well.
This beetroot pulao is slightly spicy with the sweetness of beetroot coming through in the spiced rice. Kind of a complexly flavored dish that makes for a healthy meal and tastes good as well.
The recipe can be made quickly in a pressure cooker. The only time taken is the soaking time required for rice. You can also make this rice dish in a pot or pan.
Serve this lovely colored beetroot rice with some raita or a side salad or plain yogurt. I served with potato roast and papads.
How to make beetroot rice
1. Rinse basmati rice in water very well. Then soak the rice in enough water for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, drain the rice and keep aside.
Instead of basmati rice, you can even use any other fragrant rice or even regular or short-grained rice.
2. Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pressure cooker. Then add the whole spices – 2 to 3 green cardamoms, 1 inch cinnamon, 2 to 3 cloves, 5 to 6 black peppers, ½ tsp mustard seeds and ½ tsp cumin seeds.
3. The oil should be hot enough so that the mustard seeds crackle as soon as you add them in the oil. Do keep the flame on a low to medium flame, so that the other spices do not get burnt.
4. Add ⅓ cup chopped onion and 7 to 8 curry leaves.
5. Stir and saute till the onion start to become light golden. Do stir the onions at regular intervals for even cooking.
6. Then add 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste, 1 to 2 green chilies (slit) and ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves.
7. Saute for a few seconds till the raw aroma of ginger-garlic goes away.
8. Now add 1 cup finely chopped beetroot. Do chop the beetroot finely. You can also grate beetroots and then add. Stir and saute for a minute.
9. Add ¼ tsp turmeric powder, ¼ tsp red chili powder and ½ tsp coriander powder. Mix and stir well.
The amount of spices can be altered as per your taste preferences.
10. Add rice.
11. Stir gently and saute for a minute.
Cooking beetroot rice
12. Add 1.5 to 2 cups water. Depending on the type and quality of rice, you can add water. For basmati rice, you can add 1.5 to 1.75 cups of water. I added 1.5 cups of water.
13. Season with salt as required. Stir and mix. Taste the water and it should have a slightly salty taste.
14. Pressure cook on a medium flame for 2 whistles or for 8 to 9 minutes. You can also cook this beetroot pulao in a pan or pot. Then add water accordingly. Cooking in a pan will take more time.
15. When the pressure settles down on its own, remove the lid. Gently fluff the rice using a fork. Garnish the rice with 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves.
Serve beetroot rice hot or warm with a side veggie salad or plain curd or raita variety like onion raita, boondi raita or cucumber raita.
For best taste have it hot when it is freshly prepared. Once you reheat it then you won’t get the best taste.
For more beetroot recipes, you can check this collection of 14 Beetroot recipes.
More rice recipes
Please be sure to rate this recipe in the recipe card below if you have made it. For more vegetarian inspirations, Sign Up for my emails or follow me on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.
Beetroot Rice
Ingredients
prepping rice
- 1 cup basmati rice or 200 grams basmati rice
- enough water for soaking rice
whole spices
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 2 to 3 green cardamoms
- 1 inch cinnamon
- 2 to 3 cloves
- 5 to 6 black pepper
- ½ teaspoon mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
remaining ingredients
- 1 medium onion chopped or 1/3 cup chopped onion or 50 to 55 grams onions
- 7 to 8 curry leaves or 1 small to medium tej patta (indian bay leaf)
- 2 small to medium beetroots or 1 cup finely chopped beets or 125 grams beetroots
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste or ½ inch ginger + 3 to 4 small to medium garlic cloves
- 1 green chili, chopped
- ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves (cilantro leaves)
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (ground turmeric)
- ¼ teaspoon red chili powder (or cayenne pepper or paprika)
- ½ teaspoon Coriander Powder (ground coriander)
- 1.5 to 2 cups water, i added 1.5 cups water
- salt as required
- 2 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves for garnish (cilantro leaves)
Instructions
prepping rice
- Rinse basmati rice in water very well. Then soak the rice in enough water for 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, drain the rice and keep aside. Instead of basmati rice, you can even use any other fragrant rice or even regular or short grained rice.
making beetroot rice
- Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pressure cooker. Then add all the whole spices.
- The oil should be hot enough so that the mustard seeds crackle as soon as you add them in the oil. Do keep the flame on a low to medium flame, so that the other spices do not get burnt.
- Add ⅓ cup chopped onion and 7 to 8 curry leaves.
- Stir and saute till the onion start to become light golden.
- Then add 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste, 1 to 2 green chilies (slit) and ¼ cup chopped coriander leaves.
- Saute for a few seconds till the raw aroma of ginger-garlic goes away.
- Now add 1 cup finely chopped beetroot. Do chop the beetroot finely. You can also grate beetroots and then add. Stir and saute for a minute.
- Add ¼ tsp turmeric powder, ¼ tsp red chili powder and ½ tsp coriander powder. Mix and stir well. Add the rice.
- Stir gently and saute for a minute.
cooking beetroot rice
- Add 1.5 to 2 cups water. Depending on the type and quality of rice, you can add water. For basmati rice, you can add 1.5 to 1.75 cups of water. I added 1.5 cups water.
- Season with salt as required. Stir and mix. Taste the water and it should have a slightly salty taste.
- Pressure cook on a medium flame for 2 whistles or for 8 to 9 minutes. You can also cook this pulao in a pan or pot. If cooking in a pan then add the water accordingly. It will take more time to cook in a pot but you can do it.
- When the pressure settles down on its own, remove the lid. Gently fluff the rice.
- Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped coriander leaves. Serve beetroot rice with a side veggie salad or raita. It will go well with any raita variety like boondi raita or cucumber raita or onion raita.
Notes
- The recipe can be doubled or tripled.
- The amount of spices can be altered as per your taste.
- If you want to add some more vegetables to this recipe, then I suggest adding green peas, potatoes and carrots. In greens, you can add a small amount of fenugreek or spinach leaves.
It turned out delicious. Always thanks for sharing amazing recipes.
Thanks for the feedback and glad to know. Welcome.
Thank you for this healthy recipe and a tasty one, added beet root in my weekly veggie shopping
Tried this recipe on rose day for gf. She’s still in the ICU… Turns out she’s allergic to beetroot.