Instant Pot Vegetable Pulao (Karnataka Style)

Karnataka Style Vegetable Pulao or Veg Palav recipe is a one-pot rice dish made with rice, a variety of vegetables, and mildly flavored with various spices in an Instant Pot pressure cooker or stovetop. Pulao is also known as pilaf or pulav. Serve it with onion tomato raita, pickle and papad.

In Karnataka, the vegetable pulao is prepared slightly differently. A green paste made of mint, coriander leaves, coconut, and whole spices is ground and added which adds up extra aroma and flavor to the pulao. Usually, sona masoori rice (short grain) is used for this recipe as opposed to basmati or jeera rice.

I have used basmati rice in this veg pulao recipe. You can also make this pulao by skipping coconut which I sometimes do, tastes as good as original recipe.

I have posted many Karnataka style recipes on this blog. So if you are looking for more recipes then check my Mandakki Usli, Methi Pulao|Menthya Bath, Bisibelebath, Masala Peanuts Chaat, Shenga Saaru (Peanut Sambar), Maddur vada

What is Pulao?

Pulao is a fragrant Indian-style rice dish where rice is cooked with spices and loads of vegetables. In India, they make a variety of Pulao like Peas Pulao, Beetroot Pulao, Palak Pulao, Methi Pulao, Coconut milk pulao, etc. Pulao is served with raita, pickle, and papad or eaten as is.

What is the difference between Pulao and Biryani?

Pulao is a medley of rice with either vegetables or meat and both these things are cooked together with a mixture of spices whereas, in traditional Biryani, rice and meat or vegetables are cooked separately and then assembled in layers. It is much richer due to the use of ghee and fried onions and more spices.

How to Make Karnataka Style Vegetable Pulao (Veg Palav)

Instant Pot Method

Firstly, take all ingredients listed "for grinding” and make a smooth paste in a blender using ¼ cup water. Don't add too much water while grinding.

Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add oil and once it's hot add Bay leaf and sliced onions.

Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown in color - stir regularly.

Add mix vegetables and cook for another one minute.

Then add mint-coriander masala paste, turmeric powder, salt, and saute for 2-3 minutes until the raw smell of spices goes away. Keep stirring occasionally to avoid burning the masala paste.

Add washed basmati rice, water and give a quick stir .

Furthermore, close the lid on the pot and turn the pressure valve to the SEALING position. Set the pot to manual (High Pressure) and set the timer to 6 minutes

Do a Quick Release (QR).

Lastly, remove lid away from you, garnish with cilantro and lime juice.

Instant Pot Karnataka Style vegetable pulao recipe is ready. Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.

Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method

Follow the same steps as Instant Pot and Pressure cook the pulao for 2 whistles on medium-high flame and turn off the flame. Allow the pressure to release naturally.

What to serve with Vegetable Pulao?

This Hotel style Veg Palav is traditionally served with cucumber raita or onion tomato raita, papad, and pickle. But can be served with any kurma as well.

Tips

• Since mint-coriander masala paste has water and also vegetables release water, so add water accordingly. For basmati rice add a 1:1.5 rice: water ratio. If you added more water while grinding reduce to 1:1.25 rice: water ratio.
• Increase or decrease spices accordingly to your preference.
• Traditional Karnataka Style Vegetable Pulao recipe is with sona masoori rice. You can also use Basmati rice.

Variations

• Use any vegetables of your choice like capsicum (bell pepper), cabbage. You can also use frozen vegetables.
• Vegans can replace ghee with oil.
• I have used fresh green peas here, if you are using dry peas then soak for at least 4-5 hours.
• In the end, you can also add bread croutons, which adds a nice taste and texture to the pulao.

More Rice Recipes

• Tendli Bhaat Recipe (Ivy Gourd Rice)
• Beetroot Rice
• Lemon Rice
• Ghee Rice
• Easy Spinach Rice

If you are looking for more such recipes then check out my 25+ Instant Pot Indian Rice Recipes collection.

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Instant Pot Vegetable Pulao (Karnataka Style Veg Pulao)

Bhavana Patil

Vegetable Pulao (Karnataka style) is an one pot rice dish made with rice, variety of vegetables and mildly flavored with various spices

5 from 8 votes

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Servings: 2

Calories : 231

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Karnataka, South Indian

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker, Stovetop

Prep Time : 15 minutes

Cook Time : 10 minutes

Total Time : 25 minutes

Equipment

• Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• measuring cup used 1 cup = 250 ml
• 1 cup basmati rice rinsed
• 2 ½ cups mixed Veggies(carrots, beans, peas, cauliflower, capsicum and potato)
• 1 medium onion thinly sliced
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder optional
• 2 tablespoon cooking oil Or ghee(clarified butter)
• 1.5 cups water depends on rice quality
• 2 bayleaf
• salt to taste

Ingredients for Grinding Masala Paste:

• ¼ cup grated coconut optional, i used frozen shredded coconut
• 1 inch ginger
• 3-4 cloves garlic
• 3-4 green chili
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds or coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds/jeera or cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds/saunf (optional)
• 1 inch cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• 2 cardamom
• ¼ cup cilantro/coriander leaves (handful)
• ¼ cup mint/pudina leaves (handful)
• ¼ cup water for grinding
• 2 tablespoon onion (optional)

Instructions

 

Instant Pot Method:

• Take all ingredients listed "for grinding” and make a smooth paste in a blender using ¼ cup water. Don't add too much water while grinding.
• Press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Add oil and once it's hot add Bay leaf and sliced onions.
• Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown in color - stir regularly.
• Add mix vegetables and cook for another one minute.
• Then add mint-coriander masala paste, turmeric powder, salt and saute for 2-3 minutes until raw smell of spices goes away. Keep stirring else masala paste may get burnt.
• Add washed Basmati Rice, water and give a stir .
• Turn pressure valve to SEALING position. Set the pot to manual (High Pressure) and set timer to 6 minutes
• Do a Quick Release(QR).
• Remove lid away from you, garnish with Cilantro and lime juice
• Vegetable Pulao is ready. Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.

Indian Pressure Cooker Method:

• Take all ingredients listed "for grinding” and make a smooth paste in a blender using ¼ cup water.
• Heat a pressure cooker with oil on medium flame, add bay leaf and onion and Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn light brown in color - stir regularly.
• Add mix vegetables and cook for another one minute.
• Then add mint-coriander masala paste, turmeric powder, salt and saute for 2-3 minutes until raw smell of spices goes away. Keep stirring else masala paste may get burnt.
• Add washed Basmati Rice, water and give a stir .
• Close the lid place a whistle and cook for 2 whistles on medium flame.
• After 10 mins Fluff up the rice gently. Garnish with coriander leaves and lemon juice
• Vegetable Pulao is ready. Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.

Notes

I have prepared this dish in my electric pressure cooker, Instant Pot DUO60 6 QT

Tips & Variations

1. Since mint-coriander masala paste has water and also vegetables release water, so add water accordingly. For basmati rice add 1:1.5 rice:water ratio. If you added more water while grinding reduce to 1:1.25 rice:water ratio.
2. You can use any vegetables of your choice like capsicum(bell pepper), cabbage. Frozen vegetables also can be used.
3. You can also do a 5 minute Natural Pressure Release(NPR) after the POT beeps and then do quick release. You can also cook on Rice mode if you have more time to cook.
4. You can increase or decrease spices accordingly.
5. Vegans can replace ghee with oil.
6. I have used fresh peas here, if you are using dry peas then soak for at-least 4-5 hours.
7. At the end, You can also add bread croutons, adds a nice taste and texture to the pulao.

 

Note:Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition

Calories: 231kcalCarbohydrates: 37.4gProtein: 4gFat: 7.3gSodium: 8mgPotassium: 45.1mgFiber: 3.3gVitamin A: 250IUVitamin C: 15.7mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 0.5mg

Keyword instant pot vegetable pulao, karnataka style, veg pulao

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