Lahsuni Palak Rice is an aromatic Indian rice delicacy made with spinach and garlic. Perfect flavorful dish to pack into lunch box or to be served for brunch!
As a family we all love rice and devour on it with great enthusiasm every time its made. I cook a rice dish every weekend to satisfy our cravings which we curb during the week. We are trying to go low on the carbs and brown rice doesn’t always work for us since we are so used to white rice. Plus we are South Indians and rice is a staple diet there. I blame it on my genes! That is what I keep telling KR!
This particular recipe has been on my mind for quite some time. I had eaten this pulav at one of my favorite restaurant in Bombay. We would go to dine there on every occasion like birthdays and our parents anniversary. We would mostly have fixed orders from the menu as we had our favorites. My mom would always Spinach rice without fail. Even though my dad would joke that there are other items on the menu which she should look at but she would not change her order.
We too became attached to this rice dish over the years. My mom started preparing it at home as well. She had devised her own recipe and till today I make it the way she did. Here’s how. Soak basmati rice
for 30 minutes before cooking it. Then drain the water, add fresh water, bay leaf
, cinnamon stick
and cloves
in it and cook it in a rice cooker
. Blanch spinach leaves and blend it along with green chillies into a smooth puree. Heat ghee
in a pan, temper cumin seeds
. Then add minced green chillies, garlic and ginger. Saute for 1 minute.
Then add curry leaves
and onions. Fry till the onions turn translucent and then add tomatoes and salt. Saute till the tomatoes turn mushy. Now add boiled moong beans
to this. Mix and cook for another minute. Then add the spinach puree and bring it to a boil. Lastly add the cooked rice and mix it all together. Adjust salt as needed. Serve warm with some papad
, pickle
and raita.
Until now I never realized how smartly my mom sneaked in the moong beans into this dish. To think of it, I don’t think the restaurant served it that way. That was her own addition and what a great one! Spinach itself is nutritious as it is rich in vitamins, fiber and protein. This rice dish can be prepared for dinner, brunches, family get-together, etc. No matter what the occasion, this garlic flavored spinach rice is hearty, comforting and appetizing.
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Ingredients
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2-3 cloves
- 1 bunch spinach leaves
- 2-3 green chillies
- 1 tbsp ghee
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 tbsp minced ginger
- 3 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 green chilly
- 5-6 curry leaves
- 1 large onion
- 2 to matoes
- Salt as required
- 1 cup boiled moong bean
- Cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Soak basmati rice for 30 minutes before cooking it. Then drain the water, add fresh water, bay leaf, cinnamon stick and cloves in it and cook it in a rice cooker. Blanch spinach leaves and blend it along with green chillies into a smooth puree. Heat ghee in a pan, temper cumin seeds. Then add minced green chillies, garlic and ginger. Saute for 1 minute.
- Then add curry leaves and onions. Fry till the onions turn translucent and then add tomatoes and salt. Saute till the tomatoes turn mushy. Now add boiled moong beans to this. Mix and cook for another minute. Then add the spinach puree and bring it to a boil. Lastly add the cooked rice and mix it all together. Adjust salt as needed. Ganish with cilantro.
- Serve warm with some papad, pickle and raita.
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Some other rice recipes that you will like are Broccoli Masala Khichdi, South Indian Style Tomato Rice, Palak Khichdi, Lebanese Rice With Vermicelli, Eggplant Fried Rice | Vangi Bhaat | Brinjal Rice, Tondli/Ivy Gourd Rice, Soya Pulav, Aromatic Turmeric Pilaf with Black Chana and Spicy Paneer Biryani.
Lahsuni palak rice,Very interesting recipe, will definitely try to make tomorrow.