This Spinach Rice is a quick, healthy Indian-style one-pot recipe cooked with aromatic basmati rice, spinach, and a few spices in an Instant pot or stovetop pressure cooker in under 30 minutes. Spinach Pulao is Vegan and gluten-free!
Jump to:
- Health benefits of Spinach
- Why You'll Love this Instant Pot Spinach Pulao
- Ingredients for Spinach Rice Recipe
- How to Make Indian Spinach Rice
- What to serve with Spinach Rice?
- Storage Suggestions
- Spinach Rice Variations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Spinach Recipes
- More Pulao Recipes
- Spinach Rice (Palak Rice) - Instant Pot
This Spinach Rice is also known as Palak Rice or Palak Pulao in Hindi (Palak=Spinach). This Indian Spinach rice is easy, delicious, and adds beautiful color to your plate. It takes less than 30 minutes to prepare in an Instant Pot pressure cooker It is perfect for lunch boxes that your kids and your family would love to have.
I grew up eating this dish a lot. My mom would make this spinach pilaf to sneak some greens into our daily meals, and it worked.
Today I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT. You can use any equivalent electric pressure cooker like Mealthy Multipot.
Health benefits of Spinach
- Spinach is a superfood. It contains tons of nutrients, high levels of vitamins K and A, protein, iron, and minerals.
- Spinach improves athletic performance, reduces cholesterol levels, and lessens the risk of heart disease.
- Spinach is important for skin, hair, and bone health.
Why You'll Love this Instant Pot Spinach Pulao
- Easy, quick, and wholesome.
- One-pot recipe.
- Perfect for kids or adult lunch boxes.
- Vegan, vegetarian, and Gluten-free
Ingredients for Spinach Rice Recipe
These are the main ingredients needed for this healthy spinach rice recipe.
- Rice: I have used long grain basmati rice, you can also use sona masoori.
- Spinach: I have used fresh organic baby spinach.
- Vegetables: I used onion, tomato, and green peas. You can also use other vegetables like carrots, green beans, and potatoes.
- Garlic, ginger, and green chilies: I have used freshly minced ginger and garlic paste. You can use any green chili variety for this recipe.
- Herbs: Used fresh-cut coriander leaves (cilantro).
- Spices: For whole spices, I used bayleaf, cumin seeds, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. For dry spices, I used turmeric, coriander powder, and garam masala.
- Oil: any cooking oil of your choice.
- Lime juice: freshly squeezed lime/lemon juice gives the best flavor.
How to Make Indian Spinach Rice
Instant Pot Method
Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add oil and once it's hot, add whole spices, cumin, and cashew nuts. Saute till cashew nuts turn light brown.
Then add sliced onions, ginger-garlic paste, green chilies. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown - stir regularly.
Then add tomatoes. Cook for 2 minutes till they turn soft.
Add spinach leaves and green peas. Cook till the leaves wilt.
Add rinsed basmati rice, water, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, coriander powder, coriander leaves, lime juice, and give a stir.
Close the lid securely, and turn the vent to "SEALING". Select the PRESSURE COOK/MANUAL (High Pressure) setting and set the cooking time to 5 minutes.
When the instant pot beeps, allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then release any remaining pressure before removing the lid.
The Instant pot Spinach Rice recipe is ready. Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
- Follow the same process mentioned above for Instant Pot. Give 2 whistles on medium flame and let the pressure release naturally. All the other steps remain the same. After 10 mins, fluff up the rice gently. Indian Spinach Rice is ready.
Stovetop Pot Method
I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT. But you can make this recipe easily on the stovetop too. Here’s how:
- Heat a heavy bottom pan on medium flame, Add oil and once it's hot, add whole spices, cumin, and cashew nuts. Saute till cashew nuts turn light brown.
- Then add sliced onions, ginger-garlic paste, green chilies. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown - stir regularly.
- Then add tomatoes. Cook for 2 minutes till they turn soft.
- Add spinach leaves, green peas and cook till the leaves wilt.
- Add rinsed basmati rice, water, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, coriander powder, coriander leaves, lime juice, and give a stir.
- Close the lid, and cook on medium-low flame for 10-15 minutes till rice is cooked well.
- After 10 mins, Fluff up the rice gently.
- The Indian Spinach rice recipe is ready. Serve with raita or plain yogurt.
What to serve with Spinach Rice?
Serve Spinach Pulao with any lentil or beans curry, or serve with a side of yogurt or raita.
Storage Suggestions
- Fridge: Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for 2-3 days when stored in an airtight container.
- Freezer: You can store in freezer-safe containers or zip locks for up to 2-3 months.
- Reheat: Sprinkle some water and reheat in a microwave or stovetop until warm.
Spinach Rice Variations
- Grains: You can substitute basmati rice with quinoa or millets. Follow the same steps, but cooking times will vary.
- Protein: Add canned or cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans), cubed paneer (cottage cheese), or crispy tofu to this rice for extra protein.
- Vegetables: You can add other vegetables like carrots, beans, cauliflower, and potatoes to make them extra nutritious.
- Vegan: This dish will be more flavorful when you cook it with ghee. But vegans can simply use coconut or olive oil or any cooking oil of their choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Brown rice takes longer to cook, i.e., 20-22 minutes on (High pressure) in an Instant pot. For the stovetop version, follow the rice packaging instructions.
Yes! Although frozen spinach can be used, You will get a better result when you use fresh spinach.
More Spinach Recipes
- Palak Paratha
- Spinach Dal
- Creamy spinach pasta
- Spinach Raita
- Spinach Corn Sandwich
- Chana Saag (Chickpea Spinach Curry)
More Pulao Recipes
- Vegetable Pulao
- Green Peas Pulao
- Coconut Milk Pulao
- Broken Wheat Pulao
- Pudina (Mint) Pulao
- Quinoa Pulao/Pilaf
Looking for more Instant Pot Recipes? Try my Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta or Instant Pot Mushroom Masala recipes. For more Indian Instant Pot recipes, check myInstant Pot Recipe Index Page.
If you’ve tried this easy instant pot spinach rice recipe or any other recipe on Indianveggiedelight, then don’t forget to rate the recipe. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook to see the latest recipes!
Spinach Rice (Palak Rice) - Instant Pot
Ingredients
Measuring cup used 1 cup = 250 ml
- 1 cup basmati rice rinsed & drained
- 2-3 cups spinach (palak) fresh, chopped
- ½ cup green peas (i used frozen)
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- 1 medium tomato finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic minced
- 2-3 green chillies chopped
- 6-7 cashew-nuts
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 2 tablespoon coriander leaves (cilantro) finely chopped
- 1.5 cups water
- 2 tablespoon oil
- salt to taste
Whole Spices:
- 1 inch cinnamon stick
- 1 bayleaf
- 2 cardamom
- 2-3 cloves
- ½ teaspoon cumin(jeera) seeds
Dry Spices:
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala powder
Instructions
Instant Pot Method:
- Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add oil and once it's hot, add whole spices, cumin, and cashew nuts. Saute till cashew nuts turn light brown.
- Then add sliced onions, ginger-garlic paste, green chilies. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown - stir regularly.
- Then add tomatoes. Cook for 2 minutes till they turn soft.
- Add spinach leaves and green peas. Cook till the leaves wilt.
- Add rinsed basmati rice, water, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, coriander powder, coriander leaves, lime juice, and give a stir.
- Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.
- Wait for Natural Pressure Release (NPR). Remove lid away from you. Mix well.
- Spinach Rice recipe is ready. Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method:
- Follow the same process mentioned above for Instant Pot. Give 2 whistles on medium flame and let the pressure release naturally. All the other steps remain the same. After 10 mins fluff up the rice gently. Spinach Rice is ready
Stovetop Pot Method:
- Heat a heavy bottom pan on medium flame, Add oil and once it's hot, add whole spices, cumin, and cashew nuts. Saute till cashew nuts turn light brown in color.
- Then add sliced onions, ginger-garlic paste, green chilies. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown in color - stir regularly.
- Then add tomatoes. Cook for 2 minutes till they turn soft.
- Add spinach leaves, green peas cook till the leaves wilt.
- Add rinsed basmati rice, water, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, coriander powder, coriander leaves, lime juice, and give a stir.
- Close the lid, cook on medium-low flame for 10-15 minutes till rice is cooked well.
- After 10 mins fluff up the rice gently.
- Indian Spinach rice recipe is ready. Serve with raita or plain yogurt.
Notes
Variations
- You can replace basmati rice with quinoa or millets. Follow the same steps but only cooking times will vary.
- You can also add canned or cooked chickpeas (garbanzo beans) or cubed paneer (cottage cheese) or tofu in this rice for extra protein.
- Also vegetables like carrot, beans can be added.
- This dish will be more flavorful when you cook with ghee. But vegans can simply use coconut or olive or any oil.
Nutrition
Other Recipe Collections to Try from my blog
25+ Instant Pot Indian Rice Recipes
Rashmi says
Hi please add more recipes
bhavana says
Hi Rashmi
Please check out latest Potato Biryani recipe from my blog.Thanks for the support.
Sanjana Guttal says
Hi I like the recipe ?
But I just have one doubt - I cook regular plain in 3 minutes pressure cook. Wont the rice be over cooked if I keep it for 6 minutes? Even when I make tomato rice I pressure cook for 3 minutes.
Shall I go ahead and do the same for palak rice too or is there a reason why it has to be cooked for 6 minutes? Please suggest.
Thank you?
bhavana says
Hi Sanjana
sorry for the late reply.i usually like to cook all my rice dishes for 6 minutes.when i am usually in a hurry i do a quick release.so 6 minutes works perfect.
Isha Gujrathi says
I made this tonight and it turned out Lip smacking delicious. ??? perfect water measurements and got fluffy rice.
bhavana says
Thank you isha happy to hear you like the recipe ,please do try my other instant pot recipes.
Nina says
It was delicious. Made it for my son's lunch box and he loved it. Thank you!
bhavana says
@nina :welcome. Checkout for more Healthy Kids Lunch Box Recipes
Jennifer (Delva) Garcia-Bossio says
Amazing! Thank you
bhavana says
You are welcome Jennifer:)
Jen says
Amazing! Thank you
bhavana says
Thank you so much Jen 🙂 Glad you liked it 🙂
Mary says
We all loved this recipe! The rice came so good and chewy and my hubby loved it with cashew yogurt. I can't wait to make it again and try some of the variations, such as tomatoes. Thank you for posting this recipe. Yum!
bhavana says
Thank you Mary 🙂 Not only did you just try the recipe - but you went a step further, interacted with us - gave a nice twist to the recipe as per your available resources & needs. I am so glad your family loved it - It's a moment I would definitely Cherish 🙂 Thank you once again.