Palak rice recipe with step by step photos – easy, healthy and tasty spinach rice recipe. Gluten-free and Vegan.
This is a very simple one pot recipe of palak rice or palak pulao. spinach with all its health benefits makes a good combo with veggies, lentils and cereals. I always buy spinach, amaranth and methi and use them in various recipes like parathas, dal, biryani or pulao.
Greens in our food is always good. for kids who do not like green leafy veggies – the greens can always be added to recipes where their presence is hidden, disguised or not much felt. Some rice recipes like these are:
This recipe is a simple and yet tasty palak pulao. its a homely version but healthy. in this palak rice recipe, you can add your choice of mixed veggies too. In fact even fresh green peas and potatoes go very well. the day I made this spinach rice, I only had spinach and no other veggie. So made the rice minus the veggies. Otherwise I add green peas, carrots and potatoes in this rice recipe and it tastes good.
I have made the whole recipe in a pressure cooker to save time and fuel. You can also make this palak rice in a pot or pan. Spices can be adjusted as per your taste.
Serve palak pulao with a side salad, pickle or raita. You can also garnish the spinach rice with some chopped coriander leaves or mint leaves. Pan fried paneer or tofu cubes also go very well as a garnish.
How to make palak rice
1. Rinse 1 cup basmati rice till the water runs clear of starch. Then soak the rice grains in enough water for 30 minutes. Later drain and keep aside.
2. When the rice is soaking, rinse the spinach leaves very well and roughly chop them. You will need 3 cups roughly chopped spinach.
3. Now add the spinach leaves in a blender or grinder jar. Also add 1 to 3 green chilies, ½ inch ginger and 3 to 4 garlic cloves (all roughly chopped). Do note that 1 green chili makes this pulao bland and 2 to 3 makes it moderately spicy. so add the green chilies as per your requirements.
4. Blend to a smooth puree. Keep covered aside.
Making palak rice
5. In a pressure cooker, heat 2 tbsp oil. Add the following spices and saute them till they splutter – 1 tej patta or Indian bay leaf, 3 to 4 cloves, ½ inch cinnamon, 2 green cardamoms, 1 mace strand, 1 small star anise and 1 tsp cumin seeds.
6. Next add ⅓ cup thinly sliced onions.
7. Stir and saute the onions till light golden or golden.
8. Add the spinach puree.
9. Stir and saute for 4 to 5 minutes.
10. Add the rice.
11. Stir and mix rice very well.
12. Add salt as required.
13. Add water. 1 cup water gives an al dente rice. For a softer texture in the rice, you can add 1.25 cups water. I added 1.25 cups water.
14. Stir very well. At this step you can also add a few drops of lemon juice.
15. Cover and pressure cook for 8 to 9 minutes or 2 to 3 whistles. when the pressure falls down in the cooker on its own, then remove the lid and gently fluff the spinach rice.
16. Serve palak rice hot with a side salad or pickle or raita. You can also garnish the spinach rice with some chopped coriander or mint leaves. Pan fried paneer or tofu cubes also go very well as a garnish.
Few more rice recipes for you!
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palak rice recipe
By Dassana Amit
Ingredients
for spinach puree
- 3 cups roughly chopped spinach (palak) or 1 cup spinach puree
- 1 to 3 green chilies - chopped
- ½ inch ginger - chopped
- 3 to 4 garlic cloves - chopped
other ingredients for spinach rice
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1 tej patta or indian bay leaf
- 3 to 4 cloves
- ½ inch cinnamon
- 2 green cardamoms
- 1 mace strand
- 1 small star anise
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 50 grams onion or 1 medium onion thinly sliced or ⅓ cup sliced onions
- 2 to 3 drops of lemon juice, optional
- 1 to 1.25 cups water
- salt as required
Instructions
preparation for spinach rice
- Rinse 1 cup basmati rice till the water runs clear of starch. Then soak the rice grains in enough water for 30 minutes. Later drain and keep aside.
- When the rice is soaking, rinse the spinach leaves very well and chop them. You will need 3 cups roughly chopped spinach.
- Now add the spinach leaves in a blender or grinder jar. Also add 1 to 3 green chilies, 1/2 inch ginger and 3 to 4 garlic cloves (all chopped).
- Blend to a smooth puree. Keep covered aside.
making spinach rice
- In a pressure cooker, heat 2 tbsp oil.
- Add the following spices and saute them till they splutter - 1 tej patta or indian bay leaf, 3 to 4 cloves, 1/2 inch cinnamon, 2 green cardamoms, 1 mace strand, 1 small star anise and 1 tsp cumin seeds.
- Next add 1/3 cup thinly sliced onions. Stir and saute the onions till light golden or golden.
- Add the spinach puree. Stir and saute for 4 to 5 minutes on a low flame.
- Add the rice and mix rice very well.
- Add salt and water. 1 cup water gives an al dente rice. For a softer texture in the rice you can add 1.25 cups water. I added 1.25 cups water.
- Stir very well. At this step you can also add a few drops of lemon juice.
- Cover and pressure cook spinach rice for 8 to 9 minutes or 2 to 3 whistles.
- When the pressure falls down in the cooker on its own, then remove the lid and gently fluff the rice.
- Serve palak rice hot with a side salad or pickle or raita. While serving, if you want you can garnish with some chopped coriander or mint leaves.
Notes
- For making the spinach rice in a pot or pan, add water accordingly.
Nutrition Info Approximate values
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Love all your recipes. Being an amateur cook having the recipe along with pics help immensely!!
Thank you!
thank you vaibhavi. glad to know that the pictures are helpful. the reason i share detailed step by step pictures is so that any person who is even cooking for the first time can make the recipe easily. welcome and happy cooking.