Spinach Rice in an easy, healthy and delicious one pot meal that can be cooked in a jiffy with very few ingredients.Made with aromatic Basmati rice and nutritious baby spinach this dish is vegan, flavorful and gluten free.This can be served as a main dish or a side and is loaded with fiber, protein and vitamins.
How is spinach important?
Spinach is a superfood. It is loaded with tons of nutrients in a low-calorie package. Hence it is essential to know how to choose the right kind, store them and how to prepare dishes using Spinach. Read all about it here.
Why is spinach rice a favorite dish?
Spinach rice is a quick, easy, flavorful and healthy one pot meal.It is also called Palak Pulao in India ( Palak means Spinach, Pulao is a festive rice dish)
What’s more, Spinach rice combines the starch and vegetable in one dish, making for easy cooking and saving you time in the kitchen.
What is Pulao/Pilaf?
Pulao or Pilaf is a rice dish, whose recipe usually involves cooking in water, stock or broth. A rice dish made by adding spices, and other ingredients such as vegetables or meat.The success of a good pulao is based on achieving cooked grains that do not adhere.
What dishes are best paired with Spinach rice/Palak pulao?
- It can be eaten as a vegetarian or vegan main dish
- It can be served as an accompaniment to meat
- As an accompaniment to seafood, or
- As an accompaniment to poultry.
- Turn it into a rice bowl and place slices of chicken or grilled shrimp, right on top for a complete meal.
Spinach rice recipe
Spinach Rice -A healthy one pot meal!
10
minutes20
minutes1663
kcal30
minutesIngredients
2 cups 2 Basmati Rice
2 cups 2 Baby Spinach
1 large 1 Onion finely sliced
3 3 -4 Green Chili’s slit
1 cup 1 Mixed vegetables Carrots, Peas, Beans, corn, potatoes any veg of your liking
4 cups 4 Water
1 tbsp 1 Coconut Oil
1/2 tsp 1/2 Jeera/Cumin seeds
1 tsp 1 Coriander Powder
1 tsp 1 Cumin powder (Jeera)
1/4 tsp 1/4 Garam Masala Powder
Salt to taste
Directions
- Clean Basmati rice a few times under running water and keep soaked for 15-20 minutes. This helps make the rice nice & fluffy when cooked.
- Next clean the spinach leaves well , getting rid of any dirt that might be stuck on the leaves. Chop the leaves roughly and place it in a blender to blend into a fine paste. You can add a tablespoon or two of water while blending.
- Now add the oil in a thick bottomed vessel/wok or pressure cooker, allow it to become warm, next add the cumin/jeera seeds. Once they splutter add the slit green chili’s & stir a bit.To this add the sliced onions and suate till light brown.
- Next add the mixed vegetables and stir fora few minutes. To this add all the spice powders one by one so they coat the vegetables well.
- To the above, now the cleaned & drained Basmati rice .Stir a bit, so the grains are coated with the masala/spice powders and gently coated with the oil. This helps rice grains not to stick to each other when cooked.
- Last add the pureed spinach paste, along with salt to taste. Mix them all together making sure not to break the rice grains.
- Last add the 4 cups of water to the rice mix stir once, cover the pressure cooker with the lid.Allow to cook . Wait for 2 whistles. Switch off the stove .Wait a few minutes to remove the lid.
- Serve the Spinach rice with any raita of your choice.It also taste great with chicken or fish fry
Nutrition Facts
- Amount Per ServingCalories1663
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 18g 28%
- Saturated Fat 13g 65%
- Sodium 205mg 9%
- Potassium 1365mg 39%
- Total Carbohydrate 338g 113%
- Dietary Fiber 17g 68%
- Sugars 7g
- Protein 36g 72%
- Vitamin A 297%
- Vitamin C 57%
- Calcium 28%
- Iron 39%
* The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Variations of Spinach rice
There are many variations of spinach rice throughout the world, from
- Greece where it is called spanakorizo
- Mexico where it is known as arroz verde
- For vegan cooking water is used to make Palak Pulao in India
- Chicken broth can also be substituted in place of water for a flavorful Spinach rice /Palak pilaf
- As baked casserole with a few herbs and Parmesan cheese.
The Bottom Line
Did you enjoy the quick and easy Spinach rice recipe? Are you going to give it a try in your kitchen?
Share your feedback in the comments section below.
I don’t think I’ve ever had spinach rice. Sounds healthy.
Thank you.Spinach rice, is one of the healthiest “variety rice” you’d taste with a nice mix of carbs and veggies. You could have it with a side of yogurt based raita, seafood or meat or just plain.The flavors are subtle and makes for a main dish or as a side too.The recipe here is authentically South Indian, but I believe there are variations of the Spinach rice in Greece & Mexico too ( perhaps the spices used are a little different from each other).This is a tried & tested recipe in my kitchen & I can assure you that it tastes great. You can always adjust the spice level to your desired taste.Would love to hear your feedback in the comments section here, if you do give it a try.