Palak Paneer Pulao is a complete meal in itself. It is made with cooked rice, spinach gravy, veggies and paneer. Little spicy and beautifully green coloured, this pulao is a healthy dish. If you like Palak Paneer or want to add spinach in cooking this recipe is must try. This restaurant style pulao is without onion and garlic. It is healthy and easy to make.
My family loves Palak Paneer and so I often make Palak Paneer Pulao as a one dish meal. When I posted Tawa Pulao Without Onion Garlic it was already in my plan to post this recipe.
Palak Paneer Pulao can be served as side dish in winter. But in summer when our appetite is low this is perfect as a main dish. It can be served with yogurt, chhas (yogurt blend with water and some salt) or lassi.
To Make Palak Paneer Pulao:
I will recomend Basmati rice for this recipe. But other long grain rice of your choice will work too. For green paste I have grinded boiled green peas as well with spinach. It will give nice deep color to rice. But if you want to use whole peas, do not grind and add with other veggies.
Other vegetables of your choice can also be used. However I found these veggies go well with spinach. Use less or more green chillies as per your taste.
I have used pav bhaji masala which I really like than pulao masala. But use as per your choice and if you do not have any of them, use Garam masala.
This restaurant style pulao is very easy to make at home. We can plan this recipe ahead of time. Make green paste and keep in the fridge for up to 2days. Also leftover rice can be used. It will save some time too.
Do try at home and impress your family and guests with this pulao. If you make this recipe please comment below your experience or any constructive suggestions.
You may also like:
Tawa Pulao Without Onion Garlic
Recipe Card
PALAK PANEER PULAO
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Basmati or long grain rice
Green Paste:
- 1 Bunch of Spinach
- 2 Green chillies
- 1 Inch ginger
- ¼ Cup boiled green peas
Palak Paneer Pulao:
- 2 teaspoon oil
- 2 teaspoon butter
- 1 inch cinnamon stick
- 2 green cardamoms
- 2 cloves
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 Cup cabbage finely chopped
- 1 Cup tomato finely chopped
- ½ Cup green pepper finely chopped
- Salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 3 teaspoon Pav bhaji masala powder or Pulao masala
- 150 gms paneer cut in small cubes
- ½ lime juiced
Instructions
Cook Rice:
- Wash rice thoroughly and soak in cold water for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes drain the rice and keep aside.
- Boil 6-7 cups of water in a big pot. Add drained rice and salt to boiling water. Do not cover the pot and let rice cook for about 10-12 minutes or until well cooked.
- Keep an eye on rice while cooking, because it should not be overcooked. If overcooked then rice will be mushy and sticky. Rice should be cooked well but each grain should be separated.
- Once rice is cooked pour it on the strainer and remove all the water from rice. Spread rice on the big plate and let it cool completely.
Green Paste:
- Wash spinach leaves thoroughly and blanch in boiling water for 3 minutes. Take some ice cubes in a bowl and transfer spinach leaves with help of tongs or strainer into this bowl with ice. Set aside and let it cool.
- Once spinach is cool enough, transfer into grinding jar (squeeze excess water gently), along with ginger, green chilli and boiled green peas. Grind these ingredients into smooth paste. Set aside this green paste.
Palak Paneer Pulao:
- Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a non-stick pan and sauté paneer cubes on low to medium flame until lightly golden brown. Remove paneer cubes from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan heat 1 teaspoon oil and 2 teaspoon butter and add cinnamon stick, green cardamom and cloves, sauté for few seconds and then add cumin seeds.
- Once cumin seeds change the color add chopped cabbage and green pepper, sauté for 2-3 minutes. Then add chopped tomatoes and salt, mix well and sauté until tomatoes are soft and mushy for about 3 minutes.
- Now add green paste, mix well and add cumin powder, coriander powder and pav bhaji masala. Cook this mixture for 4-5 minutes on low to medium flame.
- Turn the heat on low flame and add rice to this green mixture and mix everything very gently so rice does not break. Add paneer cubes and salt if needed. Turn off the heat and squeeze lime juice, mix well and serve.
Athira says
Awesome receipe. I tried it today and it turned out really well. So tasty and healthy
Jigna says
Thank you so much Athira, I am glad you like the recipe and appreciate your time for the feedback. I hope you will like other recipes too.?