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    Home » Recipes » Instant Pot Recipes

    Palak Rice (Instant Pot & Stovetop)

    Published: September 8, 2020 · Modified: June 2, 2021 by Uma Raghupathi · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · 34 Comments

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    instant pot filled with rice and fork
    A bowl of rice served on the table with lemon and fork
    A pan is with spinach rice and bowl of raita on the table

    Today I am sharing a simple Instant Pot recipe for spinach Rice a.k.a Palak rice in Indian cuisine.

    It is a simple, vegan, one-pot meal. Now that the school season is back, you will have one less thing to worry about while you manage your kids’ online zoom session. It's a neat one-pot recipe that doesn't leave you with a ton of dishes to wash and also provides wholesome nutrition by adding greens to your diet. 

     A bowl of rice with spinach and lemon this recipe
    Jump to:
    • Main ingredients 
    • Stovetop method
    • Instant Pot method
    • Pairing suggestion
    • Variations and tips
    • 📖 Recipe

    As the name suggests, Spinach Rice is as simple as it sounds. You just have to pick the right spices in the right proportions when you prepare it and that’s what I want to help with. Since the time online schooling started, my schedule has changed a bit to adjust to kids’ lunchtime and it is more important than ever to have a meal ready during lunch time. Afterall, PB&J sandwiches and ramen noodles cannot be the options on all days 🙂

    So my search for a unique and simple, nutritious recipe landed me on this spinach rice. It takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and fits the bill for a busy schedule. You’ll fall in love with the mild flavors. 

    I prepared this spinach rice using the instant pot pressure cooker to save time. But if you do not own an Instant Pot (yet), I have included directions for a stovetop procedure too.

    Main ingredients 

    All the ingredients like spinach leaves, spices, rice, oil and onions are on the table
    • Basmati rice: I used extra long basmati rice in this recipe. Feel free to use any type of rice, be sure to adjust the water to rice ratio for that kind of rice.
    • Spinach leaves: I used homegrown spinach leaves for this recipe. You could also use organic or non-organic leaves but be sure to wash and clean them before using them. 
    • Frozen peas: Thaw it and add it to the rice. Or use fresh peas.
    • Spices: Using fresh ground spices adds to the flavor instead of storebought spices.

    Stovetop method

    The stovetop method is equally easy as the Instant Pot version except for the fact that it would take a little longer to prepare and needs a little bit of monitoring as you prepare it.  

    First cook the basmati rice and be ready with it. You can use an Instant pot pressure cooker for that or cook over the stovetop. I mentioned in the lemon rice recipe how to cook basmati rice on the stovetop.

    An instant pot is filled with cooked basmati rice

    If you like to use an instant pot pressure cooker add 1 ¼ cup water and 1 teaspoon oil to the 1 cup of basmati rice. Pressure cook for 4 minutes on high pressure. Open the lid when it naturally releases the pressure.

    A pan is with oil, onion, ginger and garlic over the heat.

    Heat a heavy bottom pan on medium flame and add 2 teaspoons of oil.

    As the oil heats up, add cinnamon sticks and the chopped ginger-garlic mix. Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn light brown in color. Now add chopped onions and saute until they turn translucent.

    Add the spices one by one as you continue to saute: red chili powder, garam masala, cumin powder, coriander powder. 

    A pan is with frozen peas and spinach leaves over the heat

    Add spinach leaves, frozen green peas. Stir well. Cook for 1 minute.

    A pan is with palak rice over the heat

    Add the cooked Basmati Rice, and salt to give a stir.

    Close the lid, cook on medium-low flame for 1 minute. Add lemon juice and fluff up the rice gently with a fork. Spinach rice is ready. Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.

    Instant Pot method

    Start by pressing the saute mode in Instant Pot. Add 2 teaspoon of oil to the inner pot on medium setting. Once it’s hot, add cinnamon sticks, chopped ginger-garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn light brown.

    a box filled with spices, onions, and spinach, along with instant pot

    Now add chopped onions and continue to saute until they turn translucent. Add the spices one by one - red chili powder, garam masala, cumin powder, coriander powder. Add spinach leaves, frozen green peas and continue to stir well. Now add the rinsed Basmati Rice, water, salt and give a good stir.

    A box filled with rice, instant pot and spinach

    Press ‘Cancel’ to stop sauteing and close the instant pot lid. Press the ‘pressure cook’ setting and set the timer for 4 mins high pressure.  After the timer expires, do a natural pressure release.  Remove the lid, add lemon juice and lightly fluff rice with a fork. 

    Spinach Rice is ready! Serve it hot paired with raita.

    Pairing suggestion

    Depending on how spicy or mild your spinach rice is, you can choose your pair accordingly. A spicy version would go well with a calming pair like vegan yogurt. Likewise, a mild version can be paired with stir fry veggies or a curry.

    My family likes palak rice with raita which is a yogurt-based sauce with onions and tomatoes. Curries that pair well with spinach rice are Aloo matar, dal fry, or lobia masala, etc.

    Variations and tips

    • You could try different types of rice like brown rice, jasmine rice, or quinoa. But make sure cooking time is adjusted accordingly. 
    • Try adding your favorite vegetables like beans and carrots to the mix to personalize your meal.
    • You could also try adding canned chickpeas or other beans in place of peas. 
    • You can also use frozen spinach instead of fresh leaves. Or go with different green like swiss chard, kale, etc.
    • If you like tomatoes add one chopped tomato to the recipe. 
    • In the end, you can garnish your recipe with a few roasted cashew nuts for extra flavor.
    A pan is with spinach rice and bowl of raita on the table

    If this recipe interests you, look for similar recipes in my blog such as the

    • Spinach Dal - Palak Dal Recipe
    • Aloo Palak (Instant Pot Potato Spinach Curry)
    • Dal Palak - Instant Pot Spinach Dal
    • Spicy Spinach Quinoa
    • Palak Tofu Recipe(Instant Pot and Stove top)
    • Vegan Fried Rice With Tofu
    • Green Moong Rice - Instant Pot
    • Rajma Rice - Instant Pot Kidney Beans Rice
    • Capsicum Rice - Instant Pot

     

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    📖 Recipe

    A bowl of rice along with lemon

    Palak Rice - Instant Pot & Stovetop

    Uma Raghupathi
    Spinach rice is a simple, vegan, and one-pot meal. Perfect for kid's lunch boxes.
    4.92 from 24 votes
    Print Recipe
    Prep Time:10 mins
    Cook Time:10 mins
    Total Time:20 mins
    Course :Main Course
    Cuisine :Indian
    Diet :Vegan
    Allergen :Dairy free, Gluten free
    Difficulty :Easy
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 235 kcal

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot
    • Vegetable Chopper

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 ¼ cup basmati rice
    • 2 ½ cup chopped spinach
    • ⅓ cup frozen peas
    • 2 teaspoon cooking oil
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • 1 Onion
    • 1 teaspoon ginger
    • 2 garlic cloves chopped
    • 1 ½ cup water
    • Salt to taste
    • ½ teaspoon red chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon garam masala
    • ¼ teaspoon cumin powder
    • ½ teaspoon coriander powder
    • ¼ inch cinnamon
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Start by pressing the saute mode in Instant Pot
    • Add 2 teaspoon of oil to the inner pot on medium setting.
    • Once it’s hot, add cinnamon sticks, chopped ginger-garlic and saute for 2 minutes until they turn light brown.
    • Now add chopped onions and continue to saute until they turn translucent.
    • Add the spices one by one - red chili powder, garam masala, cumin powder, coriander powder.
    • Add spinach leaves, frozen green peas and continue to stir well.
    • Now add the rinsed Basmati Rice, water, salt and give a good stir.
    • Press ‘Cancel’ to stop sauteing and close the instant pot lid.
    • Press the ‘pressure cook’ setting and set the timer for 4 mins high pressure.
    • After the timer expires, do a natural pressure release. Remove the lid, add lemon juice, and lightly fluff rice with a fork.
    • Spinach Rice is ready! Serve it hot paired with raita.

    Stovetop Method

    • First cook the basmati rice and be ready with it. You can use an Instant pot pressure cooker for that or cook over the stovetop. I mentioned in the lemon rice how to cook basmati rice on the stovetop.
      Heat a heavy bottom pan on medium flame and add 2 teaspoons of oil.
    • As the oil heats up, add cinnamon sticks and the chopped ginger-garlic mix. 
      Saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn light brown in color. 
    • Now add chopped onions and saute until they turn translucent.
      Add the spices one by one as you continue to saute: red chili powder, garam masala, cumin powder, coriander powder. 
    • Add spinach leaves, frozen green peas. Stir well. Cook for 1 minute. Add the cooked Basmati Rice, and salt to give a stir. Close the lid, cook on medium-low flame for 1- 2 minutes.
      Add lemon juice and fluff up the rice gently with a fork.

    Video

    Notes

    • You could try different types of rice like brown rice, jasmine rice, or quinoa. But make sure cooking time is adjusted accordingly. 
    • Try adding your favorite vegetables like beans and carrots to the mix to personalize your meal.
    • You could also try adding canned chickpeas or other beans in place of peas. 
    • You can also use frozen spinach instead of fresh leaves. Or go with different green like swiss chard, kale, etc.
    • If you like tomatoes add one chopped tomato to the recipe. 
    • In the end, you can garnish your recipe with a few roasted cashew nuts for extra flavor.
     
    Note: The nutrition values I show here are my best estimates. Please be sure to check your preferred nutrition calculator, if you are relying on accurate calculations in your diet.

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 235kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is an estimation only.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @simplesumptuouscooking or tag #simplesumptuouscooking!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. May

      October 31, 2020 at 8:34 pm

      Your recipe looks delicious but ingredients list does not give any onion details. From the picture it looks like red onion? Amount? Thanks....

      Reply
      • Uma Raghupathi

        November 02, 2020 at 9:42 am

        Sorry for the confusion May. Yes, I used 1 red onion. I will fix that problem soon.Thank you

        Reply
    2. amrita

      September 22, 2020 at 2:54 am

      Palak rice a perfect one pot meal for busy or lazy days. It is healthy as well as nutritious meal for kids and adults. I normally use palak puree but I loved your version, will try it soon5 stars

      Reply
    3. Veronika Sykorova

      September 21, 2020 at 9:26 pm

      That sounds sooo easy! I love easy rice dishes I can whip up after work or on a meal prep day

      Reply
    4. Nicole Washington

      September 21, 2020 at 3:57 am

      If you add some chicken or fish to this dish you have a complete meal. This is a great side dish. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Uma Raghupathi

        September 21, 2020 at 7:26 pm

        We don't eat meat. If you want you can add some otherwise some beans like chickpeas, the black bean will be good with it.

        Reply
    5. Elaine

      September 20, 2020 at 3:36 pm

      I've heard so many great things about Palak Rice and just never had a chance to make it myself. Really excited to finally try it!5 stars

      Reply
      • Uma Raghupathi

        September 21, 2020 at 7:26 pm

        Hope you do.

        Reply
    6. Moop Brown

      September 20, 2020 at 3:06 pm

      This recipe looks so healthy, tasty, and easy to make as well! Can't wait to try5 stars

      Reply
    7. Eva

      September 20, 2020 at 12:23 pm

      Sometimes the simpleats things are the best,and it certainly is the case with this delicious spiced rice dish! Tank you for including the stovetop method, as I enjoyed the recipe but I do not have an IP.5 stars

      Reply
      • Uma Raghupathi

        September 21, 2020 at 7:27 pm

        Hope you will try this Eva.

        Reply
    8. Tammy

      September 20, 2020 at 10:31 am

      Love the medley of spices in this dish...it's super simple yet a nice way to kick up rice! Sounds wonderful 🙂5 stars

      Reply
    9. Veronika

      September 19, 2020 at 5:50 am

      Love trying new recipe in my Instant Pot! This will be a great side dish or even a meal prep. Thanks for the idea!5 stars

      Reply
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