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Palak/Spinach Rice....step by step.


Hey everybody,  today I thought I will post palak/spinach rice which I made yesterday night. Hubby bought a bunch of palak leaves and I was in no mood to make palak paratha, so wondered why not make palak rice and that's quick and easy than making paratha ...a whole healthy one pot meal.....right??

I used about 1 cup of chopped palak leaves....there is no harm in increasing it.

I used very little oil (trying to cut down oil in everyday cooking) maybe about 2 tbsp of rice bran oil (supposed to be healthy or is it the latest fad??). I gave a spice tadka to the oil and I found adding a teeeny bit of mace gave the added flavor....

I cooked this in the pressure cooker, I also make biriyani this way, I have posted how to make pressure cooker biriyani  during the initial days of blogging but without a good picture, ya I will update on that sometime....cooking in pressure cooker is easy and less time consuming, but the rule here is do not put weight, once the steam comes, simmer the fire for exactly 7 minutes, then switch off the fire, open cooker after about 15 to 20 min.....open and stir and your meal is ready.

Spinach/palak is often hailed for the high amount of iron, in addition to iron, spinach is also a healthy source of protein and calcium....a perfect meal for kids....lunchboxes...

Lastly, these pictures were taken at night.....so excuse!

So lets get cooking!
An Update:
For palak-chana (spinach-chickpea) Biriyani click here or add one cup of boiled chana into the palak.

Ingredients:
For the rice
Basmati rice: 2 cup.
Water: 4 cups minus 3 tbsp.
Salt: About 1 to 1 1/2tsp.

Palak leaves: A handful, chopped, you can increase the palak leaves if you prefer.
Ginger: 1 inch.
Garlic: 1/2 pod.
Green chillies: 2 (mine was hotter so used only 2).

Cinnamon : 1 stick, broken.
Cardamon: 2.
Cloves: 2 or 3.
Mace: 1/4 of a piece.
Saunf: A fat pinch.

Onions: 2, sliced.
Tomato: 2, chopped.
Turmeric: 1/4 tsp.
Coriander seeds: 1/2 tsp.
Red chilly powder: 1/2 (this is optional you can increase green chilly if you are not using red chilly)
Fresh garam masala: 3/4 tsp.
Oil: 2tbsp. (can increase if you are not diet conscious)

Method:
Wash and clean the 2 cups of rice and keep it on a sieve to drain off the water.

I washed and cleaned the palak and put it in my food processor....ya these days I am very lazy!

The processor did a nice job....keep it aside.

Put 1 inch ginger, half pod garlic and 2 green chilies in a chutney grinder or food processor and grind it coarsely...keep it aside.

.In your pressure cooker (should be at-least 3.3 ltrs, the bigger the better) , heat oil about 2 tbsp (you can use ghee if making for kids or ghee+ oil) if you are not that diet or oil conscious can add more oil...remember the more oil or fat...better the taste ha!. Put in the spices and inhale! exhale! try it :)

Put in the onions......just saute them till light brown...about 3 to 6 min on low flame please. You do not have to brown the onion......just the beginning of browning stage. Add salt, 1 tsp is okay remember we are adding rice.

Add the ginger garlic paste, give it a nice stir on and off or it sticks to the pan.

Time for the masala....add 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder, 1/2 tsp red chilly powder (optional), 1/2 tsp coriander powder, and 3/4 tsp garam masala.

Give it a stir....and let the raw smell go...about a minute would be fine.

Add the chopped tomatoes....add a teeny bit of water to allow it to incorporate, saute till oil comes out.

Now the STAR, add the palak leaves....and let the water dry up and saute till it is almost dry.


Add water (4 cups minus 3 tbsp) and allow it to boil....dont skip the boiling part....this is important..


While the water is still boiling add the rice and mix well....also check salt one last time.

Close the cooker with its lid and when steam starts to come, simmer the fire for exactly 7 minutes, after 7 minutes switch of the fire.

Open the cooker only after 15 to 20 min. Stir with a spoon.

That's it.....your meal is ready. Serve with pappad and raita.....enjoy!

TIP: Can squeeze half a lemon to the boiling water, this helps the rice to remain non-sticky.

Comments

  1. adding palak sure is a healthy step...and I only knew that adding lemon drops in rice water makes the grains remain white

    ReplyDelete
  2. Easy, healthy n yummy...what else to ask for ...looks yum

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love this one pot meal,healthy and delicious.

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  4. Healthy rice. This is sure to feature on my table soon.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Nisha ,

    New to your lovely blog:)

    Palak rice Looks Excellent !!

    Perfect presentation:)

    Keep on Dear..

    Inviting you to my blog

    www.southindiafoodrecipes.blogspot.in

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Punitha, hey thanks a ton for stopping by and for the lovely thought...

      Delete
  6. yummy and delicious...step by step is more helpful

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love the way the rice is cooked right in with all of the vegetables and seasonings to soak up all of that goodness. What an exciting rice recipe! What a nice husband to bring home palak! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Nice presentation Nisa. Was easy to understand.

    Regards,
    Abhilash

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nice and healthy recipe for rice, loved the way you showed step by step, it looks so easy and also i really liked the name of your blog Nisa - cooking is easy :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. nice Spinach rice...me too prepares almost same method...I love this spinach rice any time..

    ReplyDelete
  11. Woww.. looks super delicious and tempting.. healthy too.. thanks for sharing dear :)
    Indian Cuisine

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Nisa,
    Your tutorial for this recipe is awesome and I can't wait to make this tasty dish. Hope you have a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks for stopping by. The palak reice looks beautiful and delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Healthy and inviting one pot meal.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thank you all for the wonderful inspirations....I really need it!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Nisa, thanks for this wonderful recipe.. I tried & came out good....

    ReplyDelete
  17. adding spinach will make rice healthier..thnx for sharing this amazing recipe..would love to try this..

    simple rice recipes

    ReplyDelete
  18. you must not keep the pounds on the top is it?Just close it and simeer for 7 minutes right!!!!Let me know . Thank you. Loved your recipes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Rapabi, thanks for stopping by .....yes you got it right...no weights on top.

      Delete
  19. The color of the dish itself is very pleasing and attractive, Tomato chore makes me hungry.

    ReplyDelete

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