Our Indian Spinach Rice Recipe: Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Edition

If you’re in search of a healthy, colorful, and plant-based rice dish packed with the goodness of spinach and Indian flavors, you’ve come to the right place!

In this article, we’ll guide you through making spinach pulao, a nutritious and easy Indian rice dish that comes together in under 30 minutes.

We’ll cover three different methods for making it: in an Instant Pot, a traditional pressure cooker, or a stovetop pot.

You’ll also find tips on serving, storing, and variations to try.

Without further ado, let’s dive right in!

Why We Love This Spinach Rice Recipe

This spinach rice recipe is quick, easy, and nutritious—perfect for busy weeknights!

In under half an hour, you’ll have a healthy meal ready, whether you use the Instant Pot, a pressure cooker, or the stovetop.

The recipe requires just 10 minutes of prep time and 15 minutes of cooking, so it’s ideal for those evenings when you need a fast yet filling dinner.

Despite being a carbohydrate-heavy dish, it’s low in calories, with just 165 calories per serving, and it’s kid-friendly, making it a great choice for the whole family.

You can easily double the recipe to feed more people or save leftovers for lunch the next day. The best part? It’s gluten-free and loaded with the health benefits of spinach, so it’s suitable for various dietary needs.

What You Need to Make Spinach Rice

Equipment

You can cook spinach rice in an Instant Pot for convenience, but if you don’t have one, a regular pressure cooker or a stovetop pot will work just as well.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this flavorful spinach rice dish:

• 2 to 3 cups of fresh, chopped spinach
• 1 cup of rinsed and drained basmati rice
• ½ cup of green peas (frozen is fine)
• 1 finely chopped tomato
• 1 thinly sliced medium onion
• 1 ½ cups of water
• 2 tablespoons of oil (any kind you prefer)
• 1 tablespoon of lime juice (or lemon juice)
• 1 tablespoon of minced garlic and ginger
• 6 to 7 cashew nuts
• 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro (also known as coriander leaves)
• Salt to taste
• Spices
• 1 bay leaf
• 1-inch cinnamon stick
• 2 to 3 cloves
• 2 to 3 cardamom pods
• ½ teaspoon of cumin seeds (jeera)
• ½ teaspoon of garam masala
• ½ teaspoon of ground coriander
• ¼ teaspoon of turmeric powder

Instant Pot Method For Spinach Rice

Here’s how to cook spinach rice in your Instant Pot:

1. Prep the ingredients: Chop the vegetables and herbs, including the tomato, onion, green chilis, spinach, and cilantro. Mince the garlic and ginger, and rinse and drain the basmati rice.
2. Saute the spices: Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode and add the oil. Once it’s hot, add the bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamom pods, cumin seeds, and cashew nuts. Saute until the cashews turn light brown.
3. Saute the vegetables: Add the minced garlic, ginger, green chili, and onions. Saute for 2 to 3 minutes until softened and golden.
4. Cook the tomatoes and spinach: Add the tomatoes and cook for another 2 minutes. Then, toss in the green peas and spinach and cook until the spinach wilts.
5. Add the rice and spices: Stir in the water, rice, lime juice, ground coriander, turmeric, garam masala, and cilantro. Mix well.
6. Cook the rice: Close the lid, set the pressure valve to “Sealing,” and cook on high pressure for 5 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally before opening the lid.
7. Serve: Serve the spinach rice immediately with plain yogurt or raita for a complete meal.

Pressure Cooker Method

1. Prep the ingredients as mentioned above, chopping the vegetables and rinsing the rice.
2. Heat oil in the pressure cooker, and sauté the bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, cumin, and cashews until light brown.
3. Add the garlic, ginger, chili, and onions, and cook until golden brown. Stir in the tomatoes, peas, and spinach, and cook until the spinach wilts.
4. Add the water, rice, lime juice, and spices. Mix everything well, then close the lid.
5. Cook for 2 whistles on medium flame, allowing the pressure to release naturally.
6. Let the rice rest for 10 minutes before fluffing with a fork. Serve with yogurt or raita.

Stove Top Pot Method for Spinach Rice

1. Prep the vegetables, rinse the rice, and heat oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot.
2. Sauté the spices (bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, cumin, and cashews) in the oil until light brown. Add garlic, ginger, chili, and onions, cooking until soft.
3. Add the tomatoes, peas, and spinach. Cook until the spinach wilts, then stir in the rice, water, lime juice, and spices.
4. Cover the pot with a lid and cook on medium-low heat for 10–15 minutes until the rice is fully cooked.
5. Let the rice rest for 10 minutes before fluffing. Serve immediately.

Best Side Dishes to Serve with Spinach Rice

Spinach rice is a versatile dish that can be served with a wide variety of Indian side dishes, making it a great addition to any meal.

For a complete, balanced meal, serve it with a hearty lentil-based dal. The earthy flavor of the lentils complements the mild taste of the spinach rice, creating a satisfying combination.

Dal makhani, with its rich, creamy texture, pairs especially well, while a lighter yellow moong dal adds a more subtle flavor contrast.

Vegetable curries are also a fantastic match for spinach rice. You can pair it with aloo gobi, a popular Indian dish made with potatoes and cauliflower, or a vibrant vegetable korma that’s rich in coconut milk and spices.

The rich, spiced gravy of these curries balances out the lightness of the spinach rice, adding layers of flavor to the meal.

If you prefer a simpler option, spinach rice is wonderful with plain yogurt or raita. Raita, made with cucumber, mint, and yogurt, offers a cooling contrast to the spices in the rice, making it a refreshing accompaniment.

Another simple yet satisfying option is to serve the rice alongside sautéed or grilled vegetables, such as bell peppers, zucchini, or carrots, for added texture and flavor. For a bit of crunch, you could also serve papad (crispy lentil crackers) or some pickles on the side.

No matter what you choose to serve it with, spinach rice is a versatile base that works with a wide variety of flavors, making it an easy addition to any meal.

How to Store and Reheat Spinach Rice

Spinach rice is perfect for meal prepping, as it stores well and can easily be reheated without losing its flavor or texture. If you plan on eating it within the next few days, the best option is to store the rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

When properly stored, spinach rice will stay fresh for up to three days. Make sure the rice is completely cooled before transferring it to the container to prevent condensation from making it soggy.

If you want to keep it for longer, freezing is a great option. To freeze spinach rice, allow it to cool completely and then portion it into freezer-safe containers or ziplock bags.

Freezing it in smaller portions can make reheating more manageable. When stored correctly, spinach rice will keep in the freezer for up to three months.

When you’re ready to reheat the rice, it’s important to defrost it thoroughly if it was frozen.

For best results, transfer it from the freezer to the refrigerator the night before to allow it to defrost slowly.

Once defrosted or if you’re reheating leftovers from the fridge, you can use either a stovetop or a microwave to warm it up.

On the stovetop, add a small splash of water to the rice before reheating it on low heat. Stir occasionally to ensure the rice heats evenly.

If you’re using a microwave, cover the rice with a damp paper towel or sprinkle some water over it before microwaving to retain moisture. Microwave on high in short intervals, stirring in between to ensure even heating.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to enjoy spinach rice just as fresh as when you first made it.

Different Variations of Spinach Rice You Can Try

One of the best things about spinach rice is how easy it is to customize the recipe based on your taste preferences or dietary needs.

If you’re looking for a dairy-free or vegan version of the dish, you can easily swap out ghee for vegetable oil or coconut oil.

Coconut oil, in particular, adds a subtle sweetness and richness to the rice, which complements the spinach and spices beautifully.

For those who want to add more vegetables to the dish, there are plenty of options. Diced potatoes, carrots, and bell peppers are excellent additions that provide extra texture and nutrients.

You can also include vegetables like cauliflower or green beans, which blend well with the flavors of the spinach and spices.

Adding these vegetables not only increases the nutritional value of the dish but also makes it even more filling and hearty.

If you’re looking to boost the protein content, you can incorporate plant-based proteins like cubed paneer, crispy tofu, or chickpeas.

Paneer, a soft Indian cheese, adds a rich, creamy element to the dish, while tofu provides a vegan-friendly protein option. Chickpeas are another great choice, adding both protein and a pleasant texture that pairs well with the rice.

For those interested in experimenting with different grains, you can replace the basmati rice with quinoa or millet for a unique twist. Both quinoa and millet are gluten-free and packed with fiber, making them great alternatives to rice.

Keep in mind that the cooking times will vary if you use different grains, so be sure to adjust accordingly. Quinoa, for example, cooks faster than rice, while millet may take a bit longer, but both offer a nutritious and flavorful base for this dish.

By trying out these variations, you can make spinach rice your own, adapting it to suit your taste and dietary preferences.

Whether you add extra vegetables, swap grains, or introduce new proteins, the possibilities are endless with this versatile recipe.

Final Thoughts

Spinach rice is a healthy, flavorful dish that’s quick and easy to make, whether you use an Instant Pot, pressure cooker, or stovetop.

It’s a versatile recipe that pairs well with curries, and any leftovers can be easily stored for later. We hope this recipe becomes a staple in your meal rotation!

Up next, take a look at our turmeric rice recipe.