Perfectly cooked Millet Spinach Pulao made in the Instant Pot & Stovetop. If you are looking for ways to incorporate millets into your everyday meals, then try this mild and delicious Millet Spinach Pulao. This is an easy, one-pot recipe and is apt for the lunchbox too. This is not only an aromatic, mildly spicy and flavourful pulao but also packed with nutrients from Spinach.
Millet Spinach Pulao
I have recently fallen in love with millets. Millets are extremely versatile and packed with so many health benefits. I have already posted Millet Rasam Rice recipe in the blog. Do check it out!
After a lot of thought, I tried out this pulao recipe with millets and was pleased with the taste and texture. Millets are certainly not just a temporary fad. They have always been a part of the Indian diet since ancient times. While there a variety of millets available, I have used foxtail millet (thinai) in this recipe.
Coming to this amazing Spinach Pulao recipe, it is my go-to option for a tasty and healthy lunchbox recipe. This is a perfect weekday meal and cooking it in the Instant Pot or any Pressure Cooker makes it easier. Spinach Pulao is not only easy to make, but it is also very healthy with the addition of lots of fresh spinach. This Spinach Pulao is made with very basic ingredients such as onions, garlic, spices, and of course, spinach and rice. This kid-friendly and vegan recipe pairs well with a mild gravy or some raita and papad.
Ingredients for Millet Spinach Pulao
What makes this Pulao so good?
- This is a quick and easy recipe.
- Vegetarian & Gluten-free
- Packed with Nutrients
- The perfect option for a lunchbox or quick weekday meals.
- Kid-Friendly recipe
How to make Spinach Pulao in the Instant Pot
Wash the spinach and roughly chop it. We need around 2 cups of chopped spinach for this pulao. Make a paste out of this spinach, green chillies, ginger and garlic by adding little water. Do not add more water. We need a thick paste. Wash and soak the millet for 30 mins in enough water. After 30 mins, drain the water and keep the millets aside.
Set the Instant Pot on saute mode. Once it becomes hot, add the ghee. Add bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom, clove. Saute for 30 seconds till a nice aroma comes.
Next, add the finely chopped onions and saute till it turns light brown. Next, add the peas and saute for a minute.
Now add the spinach puree, red chilli powder and salt. Mix well.
Add millet and water. Check for salt. Mix gently. Press the cancel button, close the Instant Pot lid and make sure the vent is in the sealing position.
Press the “Pressure Cook” button and set the timer for 5 minutes. Manually, Release pressure 10 mins after the cooking is done. Open the pulao and let it cool for 5-10 mins. Then fluff it up with a fork . Serve it hot with a mild gravy, papad or raita.
Can I make this Pulao in a Stovetop Pressure cooker?
Of course yes! I have been making this Pulao using the stovetop pressure cooker for years now. Soak the millets for an hour. If using rice instead of millets, soak the rice for 15 mins minimum. Follow the rest of the cooking procedure as usual. Water quantity will depend on the rice or millet variety you use. I use a 1:2 ratio for rice and a 1:1.5 ratio for millets. On a medium flame, Pressure cook for 3 whistles.
Variations
- Rice can be used in place of millets. Basmati Rice suits this pulao recipe the best since basmati rice has its own flavour and fragrance.
- More vegetables like carrots, corn, green beans, potatoes can be added to this pulao to make it more fulfilling and nutritious. I have used just green peas in this recipe.
- You can add coconut milk instead of water to cook the rice/millets. makes the pulao more fragrant and flavourful.
Can I add chopped Spinach instead of Spinach Puree?
Of course! Chopped spinach tastes great in this pulao recipe, but if you like your spinach to not be seen, then puree and cook the rice in it.
What is the perfect consistency for Pulao
In general, pulao is supposed to be fluffy. I prefer this texture while making Pulao using Basmati Rice. But while using millets, I prefer the consistency to be a little mushy than rice. It is absolutely a personal preference. Determine the cooking time according to the consistency desired.
Tips for getting a fluffy Pulao
Millets in general do appear a little when compared to rice. So, once Pulao is done, let it sit there in the pan for a few minutes. Don’t mix the pulao as soon as it is done. This will turn the Pulao mushy. Instead, give it some time to rest and let all the water evaporate. Gently fluff it up with a fork and serve.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this Palak Rice recipe on its own with Raita, Papad, Pickle on the side. You can try pairing it up with this delicious Roasted Eggplant Raita or Tomato Thokku.
This mild pulao also tastes great with some delicious gravies like Bhindi Masala or Green Peas Masala
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Millet Spinach Pulao in Instant Pot & Stovetop
Equipment
- Instant Pot or Stovetop Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Millet I have used foxtail millet
- 1 Onion
- 1/4 cup Green Peas I have used frozen peas. You can use fresh peas too.
- Salt as needed
- 1 tsp Red chilli powder
- 3/4 cup water
To grind and make paste
- 2 cups Spinach
- 2 Green chillies
- 1 inch Ginger
- 1 clove Garlic
To temper
- 1 tsp Ghee/Oil
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 1 inch Cinnamon
- 1 Cardamom
- 1 Clove
Instructions
- Wash and roughly chop the spinach. We need around 2 cups of chopped spinach for this pulao.
- Make a paste out of this spinach, green chillies, ginger and garlic by adding little water. Do not add more water. We need a thick paste.
- Wash and soak the millet for 30 mins in enough water. After 30 mins, drain the water and keep the millets aside.
- Set the Instant Pot on saute mode. Once it becomes hot, add the ghee. Add bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom, clove. Saute for 30 seconds till a nice aroma comes.
- Next, add the finely chopped onions and saute till it turns light brown.
- Next, add the peas and saute for a minute.
- Now add the spinach puree, red chilli powder and salt. Mix well.
- Add millet and water. Check for salt.
- Mix gently. Press the cancel button, close the Instant Pot lid and make sure the vent is in the sealing position.
- Press the "Pressure Cook" button and set the timer for 5 minutes. Manually, Release pressure 10 mins after the cooking is done. Open the pulao and let it cool for 5-10 mins.
- Then fluff it up with a fork or spatula. Serve it hot with a mild gravy, papad or raita.
To cook the pulao in a stovetop Pressure cooker
- In a pressure cooker, add ghee. Once hot, add cinnamon, clove, cardamom, bay leaf. Saute for 30 seconds.
- Next, add the finely chopped onions and saute till it turns light brown.
- Next, add the peas and saute for a minute. Now add the spinach puree, red chili powder and salt. Mix well.
- Add millet and water. Check for salt.
- Mix gently. Pressure cook on medium flame for 3 whistles.
- Open the pulao and let it cool for 5-10 mins. Then fluff it up with a fork or spatula. Serve it hot with a mild gravy, papad or raita.