Hariyali pulao is a great one pot dish for any dinner. This hara bhara pulao is a great way for cooking greens. Sometimes kids don't want to eat a curry.This herb rice recipe also helps us use any left over vegetables and eat healthy food. It is ready under 30 minutes so perfect when I am heading out. I love to make it when I am heading to market to buy my veggies. It helps to clean out the refrigerator before the new stuff comes in. It can be paired with a simple pot set yogurt or just simple dal fry.This way meal is ready before I come home tired. Simple food and no takeaway!
We make so many types of pilaf in India. Some are lentil based like kabuli pulao,chana dal pulao, gatte ka pulao. Then there are vegetable based like tawa pulao. Others are non-veg based like keema pulao, chicken yakhni pulao, anda pulao, ilish pulao Others are famous as per the region like Parsi berry pulao, Banarasi pulao, Kashmiri pulao and Goan prawn pulao. Basically every region and family has their own special pilaf recipe. They can be vegan, vegetarian, gluten free or even non veg based. Each special on its own especially when guests are coming home. You can never get wrong with it. Kids love to it eat and its a non fussy meal.
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Ingredients
- Basmati rice
- Carrot
- Capsicum
- Green peas fresh or frozen
- Spinach or palak freshly chopped or frozen
- Water
- Ghee/ oil if vegan
- Spices
- Bay leaves or tej patta
- Black cardamom or badi elaichi
- Cloves or laung
- Black pepper or kali mirchi
- Cinnamon sticks or dalchini
- Ginger
- Salt as per taste
Instructions
- Soak the basmati rice in water after washing it for 2-3 times.
- Chop the veggies and keep them ready.
- Heat oil or ghee in a pan. Add bay leaves, cloves, ginger, cinnamon and cumin seeds. Let it splutter. If you are adding onions, add at this stage and cook until pink. Next add carrots as they take longer to soften.
- Add mixed capsicums and mix well. I love adding all colors of peppers as it makes it so colorful.
- Add the chopped greens and mix well. You can add spinach, amaranth, coriander, mint and even methi or fenugreek whatever is available
- Now, add the peas. If you like corn you may add that too.
- Add rice and water(water is double the quantity of rice). Cover and cook until the water is absorbed.
- Serve hariyali pulao hot with yogurt dip raita or some dal tadka if vegan.
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Food processor for chopping optional
Related recipes
Hariyali pulao recipe
Equipment
- deep saucepan
- food processor for chopping optional
Ingredients
- 1.5 cup basmati rice washed and soaked for 30 mins in water.
- 3.5 cups water
- 1 onion medium chopped
- 2 cups spinach leaves or palak freshly chopped
- ¾ cup carrots
- ½ cup capsicum chopped
- ½ cup peas
- salt as per taste
- 2-3 tbsp. ghee or oil if vegan
Spices
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2-3 bay leaves
- 1 black cardamom /badi elaichi
- 3 cloves /laung
- 3-4 black pepper /kali mirchi
- 1 ginger small piece
- 1-2 cinnamon or dalchini
Instructions
- Soak the rice in water after washing it for 2-3 times
- Chop the veggies and keep them ready.
- Heat oil/ghee in a pan.Add bay leaves,cloves ,cinnamon and cumin seeds. Let it splutter. Add ginger and carrots. Add little salt and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Now, add the mixed peppers and cook it until it softens slightly.
- Add the chopped greens and mix well. You may add frozen or fresh spinach as per your choice.
- Npw,.add the peas and mix well. If you like more spices in food you may add some vegetable stock powder and garam masala at this stage. Adjust salt accordingly. Note: stock powder has both onion and garlic in it so use according to your taste.
- Add rice and water(water is double the quantity of rice) .Mix well. Cover and cook until the water is absorbed.
- Serve hot with raita dip or with dal tadka if vegan.
Variations
You may add chopped onions and potatoes, corn or baby corn as a variation to this easy pulao recipe. Some people also like to add fried paneer too it if not vegan. You can also add a spoonful of garam masala and stock powder if you do not have whole spices at home. Always adjust salt according to stock powder as it already has onion garlic and salt in it. You may also garnish the pilaf with fried onions and fried nuts like cashews & sliced almonds. If you want to make a Jain style pilaf, avoid using stock powder,onions and potatoes. You can also add coriander leaves and mint leaves to this recipe.
FAQs
If water content in pulao is less, it will turn out dry.
Add enough water and let it simmer for 5 mins or until it is cooked.
Storage
While it is important to eat fresh, you can store the pulao in refrigerator for 1-2 days. Always heat the pilaf before eating.
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