Peas Pulao or Matar Pulao recipe is a quick, filling, one-pot, flavorful rice dish made with green peas, onions, and whole spices in an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker or Stovetop.
Serve it with any Indian curry, yogurt, raita, or lentils. Takes less than 30 min to prepare. It is perfect for lunch boxes, that your kids and your family would love to have.
What is Peas Pulao (Matar Pulao)?
Peas Pulao is basically basmati rice cooked with onions, peas, and whole spices such as cloves, cardamom, bay leaf, and cinnamon stick.
I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT. Dont have Instant Pot? you can still make this recipe in a regular stovetop Indian pressure cooker. Shared the recipe below.
Peas Pulao Ingredients
- Rice: I have used Long grain white basmati rice for making this pulao.
- Green chilies: I have used Thai green chilies for the heat.
- Ginger and garlic: I have used a paste made from fresh ginger and garlic. You can also mince and add them.
- Onion: Use thinly sliced onions.
- Green Peas: use fresh or frozen green peas.
- Oil: You can use any cooking oil. For best results use ghee.
- Whole spices: I have used cumin seeds, bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves, and cardamom in this recipe. If you don't have whole spices, simply add extra garam masala powder.
How to Make Peas Pulao in Instant Pot
Firstly, press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Add oil or butter to the POT. Once POT is hot add in the whole spices. Saute for 30 secs or till aromatic.
Add in the chopped onions, green chilies, ginger-garlic paste, and saute until onions turn light brown.
Then add in the mint, green peas, basmati rice, water, salt and mix well.
Furthermore, set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set the timer to 5 minutes.
Do a QUICK RELEASE (QR). Once the pressure has released, open the lid and gently fluff up the rice.
Instant Pot Peas pulao or Matar Pulao recipe is ready, serve with yogurt, raita, or any curry.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add the whole spices. Saute for 30 secs or till aromatic.
- Add in the green chilies, ginger-garlic paste and saute for 30 secs until the raw smell of the ginger-garlic goes away.
- Add in the chopped onions. Saute until onions turn light brown.
- Now add in the mint, green peas, basmati rice, water, salt and mix well.
- Close the lid and put the whistle weight on. Cook for 2 whistles on medium flame and turn off the gas.
- Once the pressure has released, open the lid and gently fluff up the rice.
- Peas pulao is ready, serve with yogurt, raita.
Stovetop Pot Method
To make peas pulao on a stovetop pot, follow the steps as the instant pot recipe until adding water and then cook covered on a low heat until the water is absorbed and then turn off the heat. Allow it to rest for some time and then open the lid and fluff the rice.
What to serve with Matar Pulao?
Serve Matar Pulao recipe with any curry, lentils(dal), or also just serve with a side of yogurt or raita.
Tips & Variations
- Green Peas Pulav tastes best when basmati rice is used but you can use any premium quality rice.
- You can use either fresh or frozen peas for this recipe. Fresh peas taste the best.
- I have used mint (pudina) to enhance the flavor but you can either replace with dried mint or coriander leaves or totally skip it.
- To make non-sticky, fluffy peas pulao adjust the water correctly, as it depends on the type of rice used and quality. I have used basmati rice in this recipe.
- Peas Pulao tastes better with ghee (clarified butter). But Vegans can either use coconut oil or any vegetable oil.
Recipe FAQs
To make peas pulao with coconut milk, replace water with thin coconut milk and follow the same process as mentioned below.
Instant Pot Peas Pulao (Matar Pulao)
Ingredients
Measuring cup (1 cup = 250 ml)
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
- 2-3 green chili slit lengthwise
- ¾ cup green peas fresh or frozen
- 2 tablespoon mint (pudina leaves)
- 1 cup basmati rice
- 1.5 cups water
- 2 tablespoon oil or ghee (clarified butter)
- salt to taste
Whole Spices
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera)
- 2 cardamom
- 1 bay leaf
- 2-3 cloves
- 1 inch cinnamon
- 1 star anise optional
Instructions
Instant Pot Method
- Firstly, press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Add oil or butter to the POT. Once POT is hot add in the whole spices. Saute for 30 secs or till aromatic.
- Add in the chopped onions, green chilies, ginger-garlic paste, and saute until onions turn light brown.
- Then add in the mint, green peas, basmati rice, water, salt and mix well.
- Furthermore, set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set the timer to 5 minutes.
- Do a QUICK RELEASE (QR). Once the pressure has released, open the lid and gently fluff up the rice.
- Peas pulao is ready, serve with yogurt,raita.
Indian Pressure Cooker Method
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add in the whole spices. Saute for 30 secs or till aromatic.
- Add in the green chilies, ginger-garlic paste and saute for 30 secs until the raw smell of the ginger-garlic goes away.
- Add in the chopped onions. Saute until onions turn light brown.
- Now add in the mint, green peas, basmati rice, water, salt and mix well.
- Close the lid and put the whistle weight on. Cook for 2 whistles on medium flame and turn off the gas.
- Once the pressure has released, open the lid and gently fluff up the rice.
- Peas pulao is ready, serve with yogurt or raita.
Stovetop Pot Method
- To make peas pulao on a stovetop pot, follow the steps as instant pot recipe until adding water and then cook covered on a low heat until the water is absorbed and then turn off the heat. Allow it to rest for some time and then open the lid and fluff the rice.
Notes
Tips & Variations:
- Green Peas Pulav tastes best when basmati rice is used but you can use any premium quality rice.
- You can use either fresh or frozen peas for this recipe. Fresh peas taste the best.
- I have used mint (pudina) to enhance the flavor but you can either replace with dried mint or coriander leaves or totally skip it.
- To make non-sticky, fluffy peas pulao adjust water correctly, as it depends on the type of rice used and quality. I have used basmati rice in this recipe.
- Peas Pulao tastes better with ghee (clarified butter). But Vegans can either use coconut oil or any vegetable oil.
Anitha Thamizhmani says
If I use 4 cups of Basmati rice, How many minutes do I need to set the timer?
bhavana says
Hi Anitha usually in instant pot you double or triple quantity timing should be same.
Anonymous says
Delicious & simple to make
bhavana says
Thank you