Adding Beets to your meals has never been easier with my new recipe for Beetroot Palya or Beetroot poriyal! With a few simple steps, you have a simple and delicious meal option for you in minutes.
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This is not just a recipe that I stumbled upon. Beetroot Poriyal goes back quite some time in Indian cuisine and it is something I grew up eating.
Back then, I never realized how good a meal option it really is, given its simplicity and the nutrition it brings to the table. Especially when you mix in the beet greens, you are in serious business.
This beetroot palya recipe that I am sharing today can be prepared with or without the greens. To keep it simple, I used just the beets for this recipe.
I am sure that among hundreds of beets salad recipes out there, this recipe for Beets Poriyal will easily stand out for its taste and ease of preparation. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.
What is Palya or Poriyal?
'Palya' is the name for a dry stir fry curry that's made in the south Indian state of Karnataka. Likewise, each state has its own name, but the basic core recipe and the idea behind it are the same.
In Tamilnadu, this type of curry is called 'Poriyal'. This is also a good side dish for a main course such as Rasam with steamed rice. Palya or Poriyal can be prepared with other vegetables such as beans, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, or even Okra.
The preparation and cooking method differs based on what the vegetable is. With the case of beets, it essentially involves sauteing them along with curry leaves, urad dal, chilis, and grated coconut to end up with an authentic South Indian style beetroot curry.
Serve it hot alongside tomato rasam, moong dal rasam or any kind of sambar.
How to cook beets in an Instant pot
The traditional way of preparing beets is by peeling a thin layer to clean off the dirt and then chopping it into cubes. That can be quite laborious at times, even with a Vidalia chopper.
I started out this recipe that way by first peeling a thin layer of, but then realized that the peeling and chopping would be a lot easier if I can manage to steam and soften them beforehand.
That's when I figured I can use the Instant Pot for steaming them. I still peeled the beets, but I just cut them in half and placed But you can choose to keep the skin as you cook and later peel the skin off easily. Just be sure to choose beets that are roughly the same size to have them evenly cooked.
Pour 1 cup of water in the pressure cooker. Place a trivet in the Instant Pot, then place the halved beets and ¼ cup water on the medium size pot.
Place this inside the inner pot (PIP method) and close the lid. Cook at high pressure for 12 minutes (soft with some chew). Make a natural Release and then open the lid.
Instead of this method, you could also use a steamer basket in the instant pot. Be sure to adjust the cooking time according to your beets' size. Chop them into cubes once it's cooled down.
How to make poriyal
Peel the beetroot skins off and give them a quick wash.
Cook the halved beets in Instant Pot (using PIP method) for 12 min in high pressure. Open the lid with natural release.
Once it cools down or warm enough to handle, chop the beets into cubes and keep them aside.
Place a pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil.
As the oil heats up, add mustard seeds, urad dal and saute for 20 seconds.
Then add the red or green chilies and saute until the dal turns golden.
Now add curry leaves and as they sputter, add the cooked beets and stir fry for a minute.
Add curry powder (optional), and salt, stir fry for another 2 mins.
Put the grated coconut and stir well. Leave it for 30 seconds before switching off the heat.
Variations for beetroot Palya
- Cook the cubed raw beets in the pan with ¼ cup water. Then add the tempering.
- Grate the raw beets and cook with 3 tablespoon water and add the tempering.
- Cook the cubed beetroot in the pressure cooker for 1 whistle and then stir fry with the spices.
- Add curry powder while cooking the cubed beets, this will enhance the flavor of the beets with contributions from other spices.
- You could choose not to add the grated coconut if you prefer not to.
- Add chopped carrots along with the beets.
- It is important that you add the tempering to the cooked beetroot. That's when you will get a nice bowl of spiced and flavored beetroot stir fry.
Try My other beets recipe
Beetroot Cutlet, beetroot chutney, Beetroot curry
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📖 Recipe
Beetroot Poriyal
Equipment
Process Shot
Check above for step-by-step pictures (most of my recipes include pictures)
Ingredients
- 4 large beetroot
- 2 tablespoon grated coconut
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil or any oil
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- ½ teaspoon urad dal
- Salt for taste
- 1 strand curry leaves
- 1 red chili or 2 green chilies
- 2 teaspoon curry powder - optional
Instructions
- Peel the beetroot skins off and give them a quick wash.
- Cook the halved beets in Instant Pot (using PIP method) for 12 min in high pressure. Open the lid with natural release.
- Once it cools down or warm enough to handle, chop the beets into cubes and keep them aside.
- Place a pan over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of oil.
- As the oil heats up, add mustard seeds, urad dal and saute for 20 seconds.
- Then add the red or green chilies and saute until the dal turns golden.
- Add curry leaves and as they sputter, add the cooked beets and stir fry for a minute.
- Add curry powder (optional), and salt, stir fry for another 2 mins.
- Add grated coconut and stir well. Leave it for 30 seconds before switching off the heat.
- Serve it hot or warm with your favorite side dish.
Notes
Cook the cubed raw beets in the pan over medium heat. Add ¼ cup of water and close the lid of the pan. Stir occasionally, adding more water if required, to cook the beets. Once they are cooked to medium softness, add salt and place it aside. Instant pot pressure cooker method- Pour 1 cup of water into the pressure cooker. Place a trivet in the Instant Pot, then place the halved beets and ¼ cup water on the medium size pot. Place this inside the inner pot (PIP method) and close the lid. Cook at high pressure for 12 minutes (soft with some chew). Make a natural Release and then open the lid. Instead of this method, you could also use a steamer basket in the instant pot. Be sure to adjust the cooking time according to your beets' size. Chop them into cubes once it's cooled down. Notes:
- Cook the cubed raw beets in the pan with ¼ cup water. Then add the tempering.
- Grate the raw beets and cook with 3 tablespoon water and add the tempering.
- Cook the cubed beetroot in the pressure cooker for 1 whistle and then stir fry with the spices.
- Add curry powder while cooking the cubed beets, this will enhance the flavor of the beets with contributions from other spices.
- You could choose not to add the grated coconut if you prefer not to.
- Add chopped carrots along with the beets.
- It is important that you add the tempering to the cooked beetroot. That's when you will get a nice bowl of spiced and flavored beetroot stir fry.
YOUR OWN NOTES
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
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Anshu says
Such a healthy and nutritious recipe! Would love to try it soon to include that much needed iron content in the meal...
Uma Raghupathi says
Sure thanks 😊
sasmita says
such a simple stir fry dish made with few simple ingredients !!! use of beetroot is a nice idea to include in our diet though this kind of dish ....
Swati says
Beetrot Subzi with coconut sounds so flavorful with gorgeous color. I make it more in North Indian style with coconut. shall try your way next whenever I plan to make beets.. and yes Instant Pot makes things a lot easier.
Uma Raghupathi says
Thank you Swati. Hope you will like this 🙂
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
Steaming the beets works so well for making this delicious Beetroot poriyal. I learned this trick from my mom and this has made my life so much easier. And beetroot is my favorite vegetable 🙂
Priya Srinivasan says
Delicious subzi with beets, we too love beets and enjoy it this way most of the times. IP is really a kitchen genie!!!
Hema says
Made this yesterday night using instant pot. Simple yet delicious.
Uma Raghupathi says
That’s great Hema. Thank you for your feedback:)
Shailender Sharma says
Beetroot poriyal looks lips making. Such a delicious recipe followed by simple method and ingredients.
Lata Lala says
I love beetroots and this looks fab. Moreover this is easy, simple to make and very nutritious nutritious too.
Bookmarking this to make it soon.
Mayuri Patel says
I love anything with beetroot. I definitely would love to try out this beetroot palya just on its own as a salad.
Pavani says
Such a healthy and colorful beets curry. I make beet curry frequently but never used an instant pot to cook the beets. Will have to try it out the next time.
Uma Raghupathi says
Thank you Pavani!
Usha says
Lovely curry and a great side dish. i use to chop beets and then cook. After seeing cooked beets in the supermarket, I started boiling beets and then chopping. As you said, it is lot easier this way and IP is indeed for this purpose.