This recipe is a great choice for a quick weeknight dinner that’s super easy to prepare and light on the stomach. It is made with the aromatic basmati rice mixed with a bunch of vegetables like green peas, carrots, cauliflower, and spinach, all brought to life with some whole and powdered spices. When you serve it with raita, you’ve got a healthy and filling meal.
If you want to boost the protein, you could add in some paneer or chickpeas, or just have boiled eggs on the side, which is what we usually go for. Plus, don’t hesitate to switch things up with more veggies! I like adding in green peppers, broccoli, green beans, or double beans for extra flavor and nutrition. This way, you can really make the recipe your own based on what you like and what you need.
Check out other one-pot meals on my blog.
Yield: 2-3 adult servings
Total time: 45 minutes
Ingredients:
Basmati rice – 1 cup
Green peas – ½ cup
Chopped carrot – ½ cup
Cauliflower florets – ½ cup
Baby spinach – 2 cups
Cold-pressed peanut oil – 2 tbsp
Fennel seeds – 1 tsp
Cinnamon – 2-inch
Sliced red onion – ½ cup
Slit green chilies, per taste
Ginger-garlic paste – 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
Coriander powder – 1 tsp
Garam masala – ¾ tsp
Black pepper powder – 1 tsp
Salt to taste
Lemon juice – 2 tbsp
Water (exact measurements mentioned in steps)
Method:
- Heat oil in a deep pot on medium heat.
- Add fennel seeds and cinnamon, and allow them to turn aromatic.
- Add sliced red onions, followed by slit green chilies, and saute them until translucent.
- Add the ginger-garlic paste, and sauté until the raw smell goes away.
- Add the powdered spices – turmeric powder, coriander powder, Garam masala, and black pepper powder. Saute for 20 seconds and add just a little amount of water to prevent the spices from getting burnt.
- Add chopped carrot, green peas, and cauliflower florets, and saute for a minute.
- Add salt to taste and about ½ a cup of water. Cover the lid and cook until the vegetables are 70% cooked.
- Add baby spinach and sauté for a couple of seconds.
- Add washed Basmati rice along with 2 cups of water, and lemon juice.
- Allow the mixture to come to a boil. Taste for salt and adjust if necessary at this stage.
- Cover the lid and cook until rice is done. Turn off heat, and let the spinach vegetable rice sit for 5 minutes.
Serve delicious spinach vegetable rice with plain yogurt or raita on the side. Enjoy!
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