beetroot rice

Beetroot Rice Pulao

By Swasthi on August 30, 2022, Comments, Jump to Recipe

Beetroot rice is a delicious and healthy one pot rice recipe made with beetroot, basmati rice, spices and herbs. This simple pulao style dish is super quick to make and calls for nothing more than pantry staples. Serve it with plain yogurt or a raita for a complete meal. This beetroot rice can also be carried to office/ school. It’s a kids’ friendly dish if you leave out the chilies. This beet rice is a great way to sneak the healthy veggie into your kids’ menu.

Beetroot rice

My kids’ never liked beets until I introduced them to this rice. Mildly flavoured with mint leaves and whole spices, this dish also has some green peas & potatoes added to it for a sweeter flavor.

However you can easily tweak it to your personal preferences by swapping mint leaves with coriander leaves and boiled/canned chickpeas for green peas. You may completely leave out the potatoes in the recipe.

Some crunchy papads, cucumber raita or plain yogurt or a vegetable salad will compliment your meal.

I have made this post in a stovetop Indian pressure cooker. But can be easily made in an Instant pot or electric cooker or even a regular pot.

To make the recipe in Instant pot, follow all the steps on the saute mode and pressure cook for 6 mins. Wait for natural pressure release. If you do not have a cooker then just make it in a pot. Bring the water to a boil and cook covered on a low heat until done.

To make it in an electric cooker, perform the saute steps in a pan and then transfer to a electric cooker along with rice and water. Cook on the rice mode.

More Beetroot recipes
Beetroot Salad
Beetroot Chutney
Kerala Beetroot Thoran
Beetroot Paratha
Beetroot Curry
Beetroot Halwa

How to Make Beetroot Rice (Stepwise Photos)

1. Wash and soak 1 cup basmati rice for about 20 minutes. Chop the 1 small beetroot to cubes (¾ to 1 cup chopped ) and keep them ready. Large cubes of beetroot don’t go well with this rice. Prepare the following veggies as well.

  • 1 small onion (¼ cup sliced, optional)
  • 1 green chili (slit)
  • ½ tablespoon ginger garlic paste (or ½ tablespoon each fine chopped)
  • ⅛ teaspoon turmeric
  • ¼ to ⅓ cup green peas (or ½ cup boiled/canned chana/ chickpeas)
  • ⅓ cup potato (1 small, chopped, optional)
  • 1 tablespoon coriander leaves finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon mint leaves /pudina finely chopped (optional)

2. Heat 1½ tablespoons oil in a pressure cooker or pot. Add 1 bay leaf, ½ teaspoon jeera or shahi jeera, 1 inch cinnamon, 3 cloves and 2 cardamoms. I also like to add star anise & a strand of mace. If you like you can use it.

sauteing dry spices

3. When they begin to sizzle, add the onions and chilies. Saute them until lightly golden. For kids you can deseed chili and use or substitute with red chili powder. If using red chili, use along with veggies later.

frying onions for beetroot pulao recipe

4. Add ½ tablespoon garlic ginger paste and fry until the raw smell goes off, for about 30 to 60 mins.

5. Add chopped potatoes, beetroot and peas. I also like to add few coriander and mint leaves. If using chili powder, you can use now. Add turmeric as well, i added to the ginger garlic, so did not use here.

addition of veggies

5. Fry everything well for 2 minutes.

sauteing onion veggies

6. Pour water and add salt. Stir and check the salt. Water should be slightly salty.

addition of salt water

7. Add soaked and drained rice.

addition of rice

8. Cover the lid and pressure cook for 1 whistle on a medium flame. If cooking in a pot, simply bring the water to a boil and turn down the heat. Cook covered on a low heat until done.

cooking pulao

9. When the pressure drops on its own, open the lid. Fluff up the rice. Beets get settled at the bottom of the pot. Pulao was yellow due to the addition of turmeric.

When fluffed up and mixed, the color of beets spreads to the rice. Beetroot rice can be served with a simple raita.

beetroot rice

For the kids’ lunch box, I usually pack a vegetable side like a salad or a dry curry with this pulao. This time it was the corn carrot salad. To make the salad, I cooked corn lightly and set aside to cool. Added the grated carrots, coriander leaves, pepper powder and olive oil. Tossed everything well. My kid sprinkles salt just before eating.

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

beetroot rice

Beetroot Rice Pulao

Beetroot rice is a healthy, delicious and colorful one pot dish. Made with spice, herbs, rice and beetroot, It is a quick and easy flavor packed meal you can make anytime. Serve it with a side of yogurt or raita.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Servings2
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • 1 cup basmati rice (or any aged rice)
  • cups water for cooker (2 cups for pot, 1¼ cup for IP)
  • tablespoons oil
  • 1 small onion (¼ cup sliced, optional)
  • 1 green chili (slit)
  • ½ tablespoon ginger garlic paste (or ½ tablespoon each fine chopped)
  • teaspoon turmeric
  • ¼ to ⅓ cup green peas (or ½ cup boiled/canned chickpeas)
  • 1 small beetroot (¾ to 1 cup chopped )
  • cup potato (1 small, chopped, optional)
  • 1 tablespoon coriander leaves
  • 1 tablespoon mint leaves /pudina (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)

Spices for beetroot rice

  • 1 small bay leaf (tej patta)
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds (jeera )
  • 1 small star anise (optional)
  • 1 inch cinnamon (dalchini)
  • 3 cloves (laung)
  • 2 cardamoms (elaichi)


Instructions

Preparation

  • Rinse rice a few times until the water runs clear. Soak it for at least 30 minutes.
  • Pour oil to a pressure cooker or regular pot.
  • Add bay leaf, cumin, star anise, cinnamon, cloves and cardamoms in hot oil. 
  • Saute chill and onions till golden, stirring often.
  • Saute ginger garlic paste for 30 to 60 seconds, until the raw smell vanishes.

How to make Beetroot Rice

  • Add beetroot, potato, green peas, mint and coriander leaves. Then saute for 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Pour water, add enough salt and drained rice.
  • Stir well and taste test. Water has to taste slightly salty. Add more salt if required.
  • Cover and pressure cook for 1 whistle on a medium flame. If cooking in a regular pot, bring the water to a rolling boil and then simmer. Cover and cook on a low heat until the rice is done. If the rice is still undercooked add a splash of hot water and cook further.
  • When the pressure drops on its own, open the lid.
  • Fluff up the beetroot rice gently and serve with a raita. I usually squeeze some lemon juice before serving.


Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Beetroot Rice Pulao
Amount Per Serving
Calories 511 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 1g
Sodium 727mg32%
Potassium 431mg12%
Carbohydrates 90g30%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 9g18%
Vitamin A 332IU7%
Vitamin C 22mg27%
Calcium 89mg9%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

Beetroot Rice Pulao

About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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5 stars
Turned out very yummy, finally kids are having beetroot without a complaint.

Tried the recipe. It turned out super. Thanks
Noticed 2mistakes in the recipe. Instead of saluting ginger garlic for 60 secs it’s given as minutes. Have not mentioned adding rice.

5 stars
Nice recipe. My kids loved it

5 stars
I always follow only your recipes I like it very because tasty and saying tech with pics thank you so much perfect your

5 stars
First time I made a dish with white basmati rice in the pressure cooker without it getting mushy, thanks to your perfect instructions! It came out perfectly fluffy and we loved it. In fact (thanks to the herbs and spices) my husband thought it was biryani; that’s how good it was. And I spent less than an hour in the kitchen, even making salad and garlic raita on the side. Happy days 🙂

5 stars
I tried this..Amazing it was
Very innovative way of using beetroot

5 stars
Hi swasthi,
Whenever I need a recipe I first check ur blog only, because I feel all recipes u cook like how my tots are…because every women have certain tots how to cook for their family…it resembles the same….thanku so much …
I am following ur blog since 2 years back…..

Thanku so much…ofcos we are…??

5 stars
Looks yummy. Must try it. Easy to prepare.. Thank you for the superb recipe.

5 stars
You made my family love vegetables forever with your delicious recipes. My family loves eating anything from swasthis. Thank you.

Thanks Swathi, have tried lots of your recipes & they are really good

5 stars
Tried ur beetroot rice. Came out well. Yummy

5 stars
Very easy and delicious recipe

This looks so gorgeous. If I may ask, which tiffin box do you use to pack the school lunches? This looks like a great product. Thanks.

5 stars
Tried and came out yummy.. Thanks.. How to upload the pic

5 stars
VERY NICE AND EASY RECEPE. EVEN THOSE WHO DON’T LIKE BEETROOT WILL LOVE THIS DISH

5 stars
nice thanks

5 stars
Nice and easy recipies

5 stars
Hi. Tried both yr beetroot pulao and paneer butter masala recipes. But I used tofu instead of paneer and low fat milk instead of cream. Both turned out well. Thank you!

5 stars
Hi Swasthi,

My hated vegetable (beetroot). But I must say the awesome taste beetroot rice.
Good swasthi, U only make this possible. U make the hated veggies so tasty, that one starts loving the hated veggies.
Keep it up!

One Question?
I gave this to my friend who resides at 4th flr. Her 6 yrs daughter threw the beetroot pcs & ate, she liked the rice.

So I just want to ask, can we use grated beetroot, If yes then what will be the cooking process, coz grated beetroot cooks very fast & will become mushy.

5 stars
Excellent recipe! Best beetroot dish I’ve eaten. Even my 2 yr old ate it! Will make it again & again. Thanks 🙂

Hi Swathi
luvd ua Beetroot pulao recipe…luvd by ma family including ma 1 yr old Yaana…TnQ