Palak Biryani recipe is a quick, healthy one-pot rice dish prepared with spinach which is loaded with proteins, fibers, carbs, and vitamins made in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker or Stovetop. It is known as Spinach Biryani in Hindi (Palak=Spinach).
Takes less than 30 min to prepare this palak rice recipe. It is perfect for lunchboxes and a healthy choice for fussy kids who don’t eat green leaves.
Today I have shared how to make Palak/Spinach biryani in Instant Pot and Stovetop Pressure Cooker.
So, the next time you have some leftover palak in your refrigerator, you know what to do with it! I learned this from my mom when she visited us in the USA, we served this to our guests and it was a hit. You can also add coconut milk makes the dish even tastier.
Three more recipes you can make with spinach and rice are Spinach Pulao/Spinach Rice, Spinach Khichdi, Spinach Corn Rice
Health benefits of Spinach
- Spinach is a superfood. It is loaded with 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.
How to Make Palak Biryani in Instant Pot
For Making Palak Puree
Rinse Palak (spinach leaves) well in water at least 2 times to remove salt or sand. I prefer buying pre-washed and organic spinach.
In a blender, add chopped palak, coriander leaves, pudina, green chiles .
Add very little water and blend to a smooth paste and keep aside.
For Making Palak Biryani
Firstly, press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add oil and once it’s hot, add whole spices and saute for 30 secs or till aromatic.
Then add sliced onions, ginger-garlic paste. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and golden brown in color – stir regularly
Add tomatoes, dry spices like turmeric powder, coriander powder, jeera powder, biryani powder and cook for 2 minutes or till tomatoes turn soft.
Next, add spinach puree, let it boil for 1-2 minutes. Make sure to Deglaze the bottom of the pot to remove any stuck bits to avoid BURN alert.
Add rinsed Basmati Rice, water, salt and give a stir. Adjust water appropriately.
Furthermore, close the lid on the pot. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK button (High Pressure) and timer to 5 minutes.
After the pot beeps, Wait for Natural Pressure Release (NPR).
Lastly, remove the lid away from you, add lime juice, garnish with fried onion and cashews and mix well.
Palak or Spinach Biryani is ready. Serve with raita or plain yogurt
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method
- Heat a pressure cooker with oil on medium flame, Add oil and once it’s hot, add whole spices and saute for 30 secs or till aromatic.
- Then add sliced onions, ginger-garlic paste. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and golden brown in color – stir regularly. Add tomatoes, dry spices like turmeric powder, coriander powder, jeera powder, biryani powder and cook for 2 minutes or till tomatoes turn soft.
- Next, add spinach puree, let it boil for 1-2 minutes.
- Then add rinsed basmati rice, water, salt, and give a stir. Adjust water appropriately.
- Close the lid place a whistle and cook for 2 whistles on medium flame.
- After 10 mins add lime juice, garnish with fried onion and cashews, and mix well.
- Palak or Spinach Biryani is ready. Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.
Tips & Variations
- Garnishing with fried onions and cashews is purely optional. Adding few fried Paneer cubes also will taste great for the spinach biryani recipe.
- Grinding the spinach with some coriander leaves and mint leaves is for added flavor. If you don’t have them at home, don't worry you can skip them. I always have dried mint powder at home, so when I don't have fresh mint replace it with dried mint powder.
- You can use ghee instead of oil, which makes it more rich and flavorful.
- If you want to make no onion - no garlic version, you can skip onion and garlic in this recipe.
- I used store brought fried onions for this recipe but you can easily make them at home. Deep fry thinly sliced onion in hot oil until golden. Drain excess oil by placing them on a paper towel.
- You can replace 1 cup of water with 1 cup of full-fat coconut milk, which enhances palak biryani flavor.
- Since you adding water for grinding spinach puree so adjust water while making this palak rice recipe.
- If you don't have biryani masala powder then add 1 teaspoon of garam masala powder.
FAQs
Spinach (Palak) Biryani can be served with any kurma or also just serve this with a side of yogurt or raita.
What kind of rice is used in Biryani
A classic biryani is made using basmati rice. This rice is thinner and longer than traditional rice. I prefer Daawat Traditional Basmati Rice or Tilda Legendary Rice Pure Original Basmati brands.
More Spinach Recipes
More Veg Style Biryani Recipes
Palak Biryani (Spinach Biryani)
Ingredients
Measuring cup (1 cup = 250 ml)
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup basmati rice rinsed
- 1 medium onion thinly sliced
- 1 medium tomato finely chopped
- 2 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
- 1.5 cups water
- 2 tablespoon oil or ghee
- juice of half lemon
For Palak Puree
- 2-3 cups baby spinach or 1 medium bunch of spinach
- ¼ cup mint (pudina)
- ¼ cup cilantro (coriander leaves)
- 3 green chillies
Whole Spices
- 1 inch cinnamon
- 2 cloves
- 2 green cardamom
- 1 small star anise (optional)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
Dry Spices
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi)
- ½ teaspoon cumin (jeera) powder
- 1 teaspoon biryani powder or garam masala powder
For Garnishing
- 8-10 fried cashews for garnishing
- 2 tablespoon fried onions (optional)
Instructions
For Making Palak Puree
- Rinse Palak (spinach leaves) well in water atleast 2 times to remove salt or sand.I prefer buying pre-washed and organic spinach.
- In a blender ,add chopped palak ,coriander leaves ,pudina ,green chilles .
- Add very little water and blend to a smooth paste and keep aside.
Instant Pot Method:
- Press SAUTE on Instant Pot. Add oil and once it’s hot, add whole spices and saute for 30 secs or till aromatic.
- Then add sliced onions, ginger-garlic paste .Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and golden brown in color – stir regularly
- Add tomatoes ,dry spices like turmeric powder ,coriander powder ,jeera powder ,biryani powder and cook for 2 minutes or till tomatoes turn soft.
- Next add spinach puree ,let it boil for 1-2 minutes.Make sure to Deglaze the bottom of the pot to remove any stuck bits to avoid BURN alert.
- Add rinsed Basmati Rice, water, salt and give a stir .Adjust water appropriately.
- Close the lid on the pot.Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK button (High Pressure) and set timer to 5 minutes.
- Once the pot beeps ,Wait for Natural Pressure Release(NPR).
- Remove lid away from you, add lime juice ,garnish with fried onion and cashews and Mix well
- Palak or Spinach Biryani is ready.Serve with raita or plain yogurt
Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method:
- Heat a pressure cooker with oil on medium flame, Add oil and once it’s hot, add whole spices and saute for 30 secs or till aromatic.
- Then add sliced onions, ginger-garlic paste .Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and golden brown in color – stir regularly.Add tomatoes ,dry spices like turmeric powder ,coriander powder ,jeera powder ,biryani powder and cook for 2 minutes or till tomatoes turn soft.
- Next add spinach puree ,let it boil for 1-2 minutes.
- Add rinsed Basmati Rice, water, salt and give a stir .Adjust water appropriately.
- Close the lid place a whistle and cook for 2 whistles on medium flame.
- After 10 mins add lime juice ,garnish with fried onion and cashews and Mix well.
- Palak or Spinach Biryani is ready.Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.
Notes
- Garnishing with fried onions and cashews are purely optional. Adding few fried Paneer cubes also will taste great.
- Grinding the spinach with some coriander leaves and mint leaves is for added flavor. If you don’t have at home, dont worry you can skip them.I always have dried mint powder at home, so when i dont have fresh mint replace with dried mint powder.
- You can ghee instead of oil, makes it more rich and flavorful.
- If you want to make no onion - no garlic version ,you can skip onion and garlic in this recipe.
- I used store brought fried onions for this recipe but you can easily make them at home.Deep fry thinly sliced onion in hot oil until golden. Drain excess oil by placing them on a paper towel.
- You can replace 1 cup of water with 1 cup of full fat coconut milk, enhances palak biryani flavor.
- Since you adding water for grinding spinach puree so adjust water while making biryani.
- If you dont have biryani masala powder then add 1 teaspoon of garam masala powder.
Nutrition
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SPatel says
Absolute FAN of this recipe!!
Have made it many times and the family LOVES it!!
Thanks for the recipe
bhavana says
So glad to know you & your family liked the recipe Shrutz Patel 🙂 Thank you for sharing your feedback, do try other recipes & share how it turns out 🙂