Spinach Garlic Rice | Lahsuni Palak Pulao

My mom's favorite dish

This Indian spinach recipe has been on my mind for quite some time. I had eaten this pulao at one of my favorite restaurants in Bombay.

We would go there to dine on occasions like birthdays and our parents' anniversary. Being regulars, we always ordered the same things. 

My mom would always order Spinach/palak rice. We too became attached to this green veg pulao over the years.

Then she started preparing it at home as well. So my association with this vegan rice dish goes way back! 

We love rice

As a family, we love rice and devour it with great enthusiasm every time it's made. I cook some variety of veg pulao every weekend to satisfy our cravings.

Plus we are South Indians and rice is our staple diet. So I blame it on my genes! 

This flavored rice recipe is my mother's and I still make it the way she used to but now I make it in the Instant Pot. 

Rice in Instant Pot

Before the Instant Pot, I used to cook rice in a rice cooker. But ever since the Instant pot came into our lives, things have changed. 

It's so easy to cook rice-based dishes in it. Cooking dishes like a pilaf, pulao, biryani, or fried rice is tricky because the grains need to be separate and not turn mushy. 

When making such recipes in the IP, it's important to remember the water to rice ratio. It's always 1:1. So 1 cup of rice would need 1 cup of water. 

Also, if cooking with Basmati rice, it helps to soak it for 15 minutes prior to cooking. This step ensures that the grains are long, and separated after being cooked. 

Cooking time for rice can range from 4 to 8 minutes. Using the pot-in-pot method, you can simultaneously cook something else along with it and save time. 

Why make this

Palak rice a perfect meal for busy or lazy days. It's a healthy as well as a nutritious meal for kids and adults. Green food is always good food!

• This is a great recipe in which to sneak in some greens. Spinach itself is nutritious as it is rich in vitamins, fiber, and protein. 
• It's a vegan and gluten-free one-pot meal. 
• Can be made in the Instant pot or on a stovetop.
• Works great with leftover rice.
• Can be made in 30 minutes.
• Extremely flavorful and visually appetizing.

As you can see, this recipe calls for basic pantry essentials.

Rice - Basmati rice is best suited for this recipe. Select longer grains that have a slight golden hue. 

Spinach - I have used baby spinach, but you can use regular spinach or even mixed greens.

Other veggies - Onions, tomato, and green peas. Feel free to add more veggies if needed. 

Spices - Bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon, cloves, and cumin seeds give this recipe an intense earthy and aromatic flavor. 

Ginger, garlic, and serrano peppers for the required heat and flavor. 

Wash basmati rice under running water. Then soak it for 20 minutes before cooking it. Do this irrespective of whether you are making it in the Instant Pot or Stovetop. 

Instant Pot

Here's what you need to do to make this Indian Spinach rice recipe in the Instant Pot:

1. The first step is to blanch the spinach. Add spinach to boiling water and let it sit in it for 10 minutes.
   • Then immediately transfer the leaves to a bowl of ice water. Let it be in there for another 10 minutes. 
2. Transfer the leaves to a blender and blitz to make a smooth puree. 
3. Turn on the Instant pot in Saute mode. Add oil to the pot and saute cumin seeds, bay leaf
   , cinnamon stick
   , and cloves
   .
   • Then add minced green chilies, onions, garlic, and ginger. Saute till the onions turn translucent.
4. It's time to add the tomatoes and green peas. 
5. Then add the spinach puree along with salt. Drain the water from the rice and add it to the pot. 
6. Add water, give it all a good stir. Turn off the saute mode. Close the lid and make sure the vent is in a sealing position.
   • Cook in manual/pressure mode for 4 minutes. Allow to naturally release the pressure for 4 minutes and then do a manual pressure release. 
   • Fluff the rice lightly with a fork. Garnish with lemon juice and chopped cilantro. 

Stovetop

It's also very easy to make this veg pulao on the stovetop!

1. Cook rice in a rice cooker
   . Add bay leaf
   , cinnamon stick
   , and cloves
   to it. This helps infuse the flavors of these whole spices into the rice.
2. Meanwhile, blanch the spinach and prepare the puree. (refer to steps above)
3. Heat oil in a pan. Temper cumin seeds, and then add minced green chilies, onions, garlic, and ginger. Saute till the onions turn translucent.
4. Next, add the tomatoes and green peas. Saute till the tomatoes turn soft and pulpy. 
5. Then add the spinach puree along with salt. Fry for a minute. 
6. Lastly, add the cooked rice and mix it all together. You can discard the whole spices in the rice. Garnish with lemon juice and chopped cilantro. 

Serving suggestions 🍽 

Serve it warm with some papad, pickle, plain yogurt, or raita on the side. This pulao can also be paired with some stir-fries, Dal, or curries. 

This green veg pulao can be prepared for lunches, dinner, brunches, family get-together, etc. You can even pack it in lunchboxes. 

No matter what the occasion, this garlic-flavored Indian spinach rice recipe is hearty, comforting, and appetizing.

Add this palak rice to your St.Patrick's Day menu and watch your loved ones go crazy over it! BTW, while we are on this topic, here is a fun collection of non-alcoholic drinks to serve on this day!

Top recipe tips 💭

You can also use frozen spinach in this recipe. If using, then no need to blanch. You can directly puree them. 

Another way to cut cooking time is to skip blanching the spinach. Just chop them and add them along with the other veggies. The dish will not have vivid green color though. 

Instead of water, you can also cook this with coconut milk. Or use water and coconut milk in equal proportions. 

For a different flavor, add 1-2 tablespoons of sambhar powder along with the spices. Feel free to use a combination of spices and experiment to suit your taste.

This green veg pulao works great with leftover rice as well. Instead of the Instant pot, you can make this in a regular pressure cooker as well. 

Recipe FAQs 📖