Palak Rice Recipe (Spinach Rice)

Palak Rice Pulao is Indian style Spinach Rice made with basmati rice, fresh spinach, spices and herbs. This iron-rich dish is super quick and easy to make for a quick meal. Mildly spiced yet tastes delicious and uses nothing but pantry staples. It’s a meal in itself and you won’t need any sides. But you may serve this Palak Rice with a Raita, Kachumber or a Vegetable salad to perk up the nutrition of your meal.

Make this palak rice in a pan on the stovetop or in the instant pot with my easy recipe instructions.

About Palak Rice

Palak Rice also known as Spinach Rice is an Indian dish where cooked rice is mixed with sautéed and spiced spinach and herbs. It is made in numerous ways and this palak rice is a family favorite and is made time and again. It goes well in the office and school boxes too.

In this post I share 2 ways to make this green wholesome goodness. Both the methods use the same ingredients. The first recipe is to puree spinach and saute with spices to flavour it. Then mix it with precooked rice. You are done with it and ready to serve. To make it a complete meal, serve it with Lassi, chaas, salad and papad.

I prefer this method since palak is sauteed only for few mins retaining most of the nutrients. It is not over cooked as it happens with pressure cooking method.

While the rice cooks, spinach can be cleaned and pureed which saves some time. Potato, sweet corn, baby corn, cauliflower and peas go very well with this method.

More veggies of your choice can be used. I have used only 1 medium potato here. The rice tastes good on its own even without the addition of any veggies.

The second method is a one pot palak rice, where the spices are tempered and then spinach is sautéed. To this rice and water is added and cooked in one go. You can either use a pressure cooker or a pot for this method.

I have used basmati rice but you can use any rice that is not sticky or mushy. If you have precooked rice, then you can just use up to make palak rice following the first method.

You may like to check this link for more rice recipes.

For more Palak recipes, check
Spinach curry
Palak paratha
Aloo palak
Palak paneer
Aloo methi
Hara bhara kabab

Photo Guide

How to Make Palak Rice (Stepwise Pics)

Preparation

1. Wash, soak and cook 1 cup rice in whatever way you like. For the lunch box, I usually make rice in electric cooker or pressure cooker. If making in pressure cooker, I just cook on medium flame for 1 whistle after soaking for 20 mins. You can also cook in a pot with water.

2. Meanwhile pluck, wash palak in a large pot filled with water. Sprinkle some salt on the palak and rinse well few times. Drain the water. Add them to a blender jar (if desired with green chilies). I used small chutney jar & used about 100 grams spinach. It comes upto 2 cups tightly packed or 3.5 cups loosely measured. I blend half first and then added the other half. You may add few tablespoons water to help blend smooth.

3. Make a fine puree. Set this aside.

Make Palak Rice

4. Heat 1½ tablespoons oil in a pan. Add 1 bay leaf and ½ teaspoon cumin seeds. I also prefer to add a star anise and 2 cardamoms. These are optional. When the cumin begins to sizzle, add the 2 chopped garlic cloves and 1 to 2 slit green chilies. Saute until the garlic turns fragrant for 30 to 40 seconds.

5. Add 1 small sliced onion and fry them until until slightly golden or pink.

6. This step is optional. Add 1 medium potato finely chopped. Or any other veggies you like. Fry until they are cooked completely. If needed cover and cook or sprinkle some water to help them cook. Ensure you chop the potatoes very fine.

7. Add ½ to ¾ teaspoon garam masala, 1/8 teaspoon turmeric and ½ teaspoon salt.

8. Saute everything well.

9. Add the palak puree.

10. Saute until the raw smell goes off. Add 10 to 12 chopped mint leaves or few coriander leaves. Do not skip the herbs here. They add a good flavor. Saute for 2 mins. Turn off the stove.

11. Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Spinach is high in iron. The absorption of iron is good when lemon juice or any vitamin C ingredient is used. If you do not have you can skip it.

12. Mix everything well. Taste test and add more salt if needed.

Serve palak rice with some salad.

Instant Pot Palak Rice

1. Soak 1 cup basmati rice for 30 mins and later drain it. I use the chopped palak here. Rinse,drain and chop spinach very finely.
2. Press SAUTE button on the Instant pot and pour 1.5 tbsps ghee or oil to the steel insert.
3. Then add half tsp cumin and 1 bay leaf. When they splutter, add onions and green chilli. Saute for 2 mins until transparent.
4. Next stir in the ginger garlic. Let it fry for 30 seconds.
5. Then add potatoes, mint leaves and spinach. Saute until the leaves wilt.
6. Add salt, turmeric and garam masala. Press CANCEL button. Pour 1¼ cups water and deglaze the pot by scrubbing the bottom.
7. Drain water from the rice completely and add it to the pot. Give a good mix.
8. Secure the instant pot with the lid and position the steam release handle to sealing.
9. Press PRESSURE COOK button and set the timer to 5 mins. Instant pot will beep when the rice is done.
10. Let the pressure release naturally for 3 to 4 mins and then release the rest manually by moving the steam release value from sealing to venting.
11. Fluff up the rice with a fork. Cool down slightly and squeeze in the lemon juice. Serve palak rice with raita.

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Recipe Card

This recipe is from the Archives. First published in December 2015. Updated and republished in November 2021.