Dalia Pulao (Broken Wheat Pulao) is a wholesome, fiber-rich meal made with dalia, vegetables, and a few Indian spices. Made easily in an Instant Pot or on the stovetop, it's perfect for a quick weekday lunch. Pair it with raita for a refreshing side. Great for both kids and adults, it also makes a fantastic lunchbox option!

I love simple pulao recipes, whether it's coconut milk pulao, peas pulao, or quinoa pulao. Today, I’m sharing another healthy and delicious recipe – Dalia Pulao cooked in the Instant Pot pressure cooker.
In North India, it’s commonly known as Dalia, while in South India, it’s called samba rava, godi rave, or godhuma rava. Dalia is used to make dishes like dalia upma, dalia khichdi, and dalia kheer, making it a nutritious addition to any meal!
If you dont have an Instant Pot, you can make this broken wheat pilaf in a regular stovetop Indian pressure cooker. Follow the same steps, and pressure cook the dalia pulao for three whistles and turn off the flame. Allow the pressure to release naturally.
Jump to:
Ingredients
- Daliya: Also known as broken wheat or craked wheat. It is available in different sizes. Medium to coarse-sized dalia works for this recipe. If you don't find daliya, you can substitute it with bulgur wheat.
- Vegetables: I used onions, tomatoes, ginger, garlic, carrots, green beans, green peas, and broccoli. You can also swap for other vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, and cauliflower.
- Spices: I used cumin seeds, turmeric powder, coriander powder, and garam masala.
How to Make Broken Wheat Pulao/Dalia Pulao in an Instant Pot
Press SAUTE on the Instant Pot. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in the pot. Then add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, and 2 green chilies. Saute for few seconds.
You can also add whole spices like bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves, and cardamom at this stage. I did not add it to this recipe.
Add 1 medium onion (finely chopped), and 1 tablespoon minced ginger-garlic. Saute till onions turn light brown.
Then add 1 small tomato (finely chopped) and cook for 2-3 minutes till tomato turns soft.
Then add 2 cups of mixed vegetables (carrots, green bean, green peas, and broccoli), and cook for a minute.
Add ¼ teaspoon turmeric, ½ teaspoon garam masala, ½ teaspoon coriander powder, 1 cup of broken wheat, salt, and 2 cups of water and mix well.
Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 7 minutes.
Once the pot beeps, wait for NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE (NPR).
Add 1 tablespoon of coriander leaves and the juice of half a lemon and mix well. Instant pot broken wheat pulao or dalia pulao is ready, serve with yogurt, or raita.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
Follow the same steps as the instant pot. Pressure cook the pulao for 3 whistles on medium-high flame and turn off the flame. Allow the pressure to release naturally.
Serving Suggestions
Serve dalia and mixed vegetable pulao with plain yogurt or cucumber raita and pickle.
Storage Suggestions
- Dalia pulao will keep well for 2 or 3 days in the fridge in an air-tight container. You can reheat it on a stovetop or in a microwave.
- You can also freeze it in freezer-safe containers for up to 1 month.
Tips & Variations
- Use medium or coarse broken wheat for a fluffy texture.
- You can also replace broken wheat with rice, millet, or quinoa.
- I used fresh vegetables. But you can also use frozen vegetables.
- You can pre-roast the dalia in ghee or oil for a nutty aroma and non-sticky texture.
FAQs
No, Bulgur wheat is different from broken or cracked wheat.
Bulgur (also called bulgar or bulghur) is a wheat product made from whole wheat grains that have been cleaned, steamed/parboiled, dried/toasted, and then cracked/ground/crushed/cut into grains of several distinct sizes (typically available in four-grain sizes: fine, medium, coarse and whole).
Cracked wheat is similar other than it is not usually precooked (steamed or parboiled). Cracked wheat is a wheat product made from whole wheat grains that have been cracked/ground/crushed/cut into smaller pieces.
Sometimes, bulgur is incorrectly labeled as broken/cracked wheat. However, both look alike and can be substituted for each other: bulgur is precooked, so it may need less cooking time than cracked wheat.
For people with diabetes, doctors always suggest foods in their original form that have their natural fiber intact. These include broken wheat (dalia), whole grains, dals that have their skin still on, and all types of fibrous grains, especially ragi, jowar, and bajra.
More Pulao Recipes
Instant Pot Broken Wheat Pulao (Dalia Pulao)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup broken wheat (dalia/cracked wheat)
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 1 small tomato chopped
- 2 green chilies chopped
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic minced
- 2 cups mixed vegetables (carrots, bean, green peas, broccoli)
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- juice of half lemon
- 1 tablespoon coriander leaves
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 cups water
- salt as per taste
Instructions
- Press SAUTE on the Instant Pot. Add oil in to the pot.
- Once the pot is hot, add in the cumin seeds, green chilies. Saute for few seconds.
- Add the chopped onions, minced ginger-garlic. Saute till onions turn light brown in color.
- Then add tomato and cook for 2-3 minutes till tomato turns soft.
- Then add mixed vegetables, cook for a minute.
- Add turmeric, garam masala, coriander powder, broken wheat, salt, and water and mix well.
- Close the lid on the pot, and turn pressure valve to SEALING position.
- Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set timer to 7 minutes.
- Wait for NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE(NPR)(Wait until silver button on lid drops).
- Once the pressure has released, open the lid, add coriander leaves, juice of half lemon, and mix well.
- Broken wheat pulao is ready, serve with yogurt, raita.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
- Follow the same steps as the instant pot. Pressure cook the pulao for 3 whistles on medium-high flame and turn off the flame. Allow the pressure to release naturally.
Notes
- Use medium or coarse broken wheat for a fluffy texture.
- You can also replace broken wheat with rice, millet or quinoa.
- I used fresh vegetables. But you can also use frozen vegetables.
- You can pre-roast the dalia in ghee or oil for a nutty aroma and non-sticky texture.
Nutrition
★ Like this recipe? FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube for more quick & easy recipes.
Sowmya
Tried came out really well,thanks for sharing
bhavana
Thank you sowmya glad you liked it
Health n wellness
Thanks you and I admire you to have the courage the talk about this,This was a very meaningful post for me. Thank you.
Recommended Foods For Controlling Diabetes
bhavana
thank you
Anonymous
After a minute, IP displayed burn. 1:2 wheat:water is not the right ratio for IP. Followed all the measurements. Any tips?
bhavana
Hi,Sorry to hear that,newer instant pot are very sensitive and often give BURN message for the below reasons.
a)New instant pots need additional 1/2 cup of water b)make sure to deglaze the pot ie anything sticking to the inner pot should be gently scrapped off to prevent burn symbol before putting the lid for pressure cooking .Hope this helps.I will update the blog with these details.
Lata
How much water do you add for stove top
bhavana
For any kind of pressure cooker use 2 cups of water for 1 cup of broken wheat..If you are making on a stove top pan/kadai may be you can use 2.5 cups of water.