Palak Pulao (Spinach Pulao)

Palak Pulao (Spinach Pulao) is healthier variant of Pulao. Palak Pulao is easy to made, delicious, balanced and nutritious recipes. Like all greens, Palaks are rich in iron, vitamins.

Ingredients:

• Basmati Rice- 1 cup 
• Spinach puree- 2 cup (from med size bunch)
• Water- approx ½ to ¾ cup (depends upon consistency of spinach puree)
• Green chili- 2 to 4
• Onion, sliced- 2 large or 1 ½ cup
• Cali flower florets- 1 cup
• Carrot, diced- 1 large or 1 cup
• French beans, chopped-  ½ cup
• Potato, cubed- 1 med
• Green peas- 1 cup
• Tomato, cubed- 1 large
• Ginger~garlic paste- 2 tsp
• Bay leaves- 2
• Cumin seeds- 1 tsp
• Black peppercorns- 6
• Cloves- 4
• Black cardamom- 2
• Green cardamom- 2
• Star anise- 2
• Garam masala powder- ½ tsp
• Hing- ¼ tsp
• Cashew nuts- 10
• Kishmish/golden raisins- 1 tbsp
• Sugar- ½ tsp
• Salt- to taste
• Oil- 3 tbsp
• Clarified butter/pure ghee- 1 tbsp

Method:

• Wash the rice and soak it in the water for 20 minutes. Drain with strainer.
• Wash the spinach leaves. 
• Boil sufficient water with pinch of baking soda.
• Add spinach in water and blanch spinach leaves. Wash leaves with cold water and drain.
• Grind spinach into a fine paste with little water.
• Heat oil in a pressure cooker.
• Add all mentioned whole spices/khada masala and hing. Saute while.
• Add cashew nuts, saute till they turn light brown.
• Add green chilli and onion, saute till onion turns translucent.
• Add ginger-garlic paste and all veggies except tomato. Mix well and saute for a minute.
• Add spinach puree, mix well and cook for a minute.
• Add rice, mix well and saute for a minute.
• Now add water, tomato, sugar, kishmish, garam masla and sault. Mix well.
• Add pure ghee. Cover the lid and cook till one whistle. Then cook on low heat for 10 minutes and switch it off. Once the pressure is released, mix gently. 
• Serve hot with any raita and papad.

Notes:

• You can add veggies as your choice. 
• If you like spicy, grind chilli with spinach. Even you can grind ginger, garlic, chilli along with spinach.
• You can use 1 cup of spinach puree instead of 2 cups for light taste and colour. Adjust water according to spinach puree. 
• You can add paneer cubes in this pulao or grate paneer over while serving.