Spinach Vegetable Rice

Category: Rice / Lunch
Preparation Time: 15 mins 
Cooking Time: 20 mins
Servings: For 2-3 persons

Spinach (Palak) is one of the very popular herbs in the world. Some of the health benefits of spinach include a good source of essential vitamins and minerals, cures gastric disorders, protects liver, kills intestinal worms, cures urinary disorders and acts as a natural laxative. This is one of the very important green for growing kids. 

This rice can serve as a complete one pot meal for kids as well as for the entire family since it has spinach along with different veggies. Vegetables are your choice - you can use potato, peas, carrot, corn, cauliflower. Also spice level (green chillies) can be adjusted as per your taste.

Ingredients:

•  Rice - 1 cup
• Spinach - 1 bunch / 2 1/2 cups chopped
• Carrot - 1, cubed
• Green peas - 1/2 cup (I used frozen)
• Corn - 1/4 cup (I used frozen)
• Small onions - 12-15 (Or 1/2 of big onion)
• Green chillies - 1-2 or to taste
• Garlic cloves - 3
• Ginger - 3/4 inch piece
• Coriander seeds - 3/4 tsp
• Cumin seeds - 3/4 tsp
• Cloves - 3
• Cinnamon stick - 3/4 inch piece
• Bay leaf - 1
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Salt - to taste
• Water - 2 cups 

Method:

1.  Wash and soak the rice for at least 20 mins and while soaking, prepare other ingredients for making this rice
2. Dry roast these (Coriander seeds, Cumin seeds, Cloves and Cinnamon) ingredients on medium-low heat till it gives nice aroma. Remove from the flame and allow to cool
3. Wash and chop the spinach leaves and chop green chillies, onions, ginger, garlic as well
4. Grind all the prepared ingredients (Dry roasted spices, onion, spinach, ginger, garlic, green chillies) into a smooth puree. Sprinkle little water only if required for grinding
5. Heat the oil in deep pan on medium heat, add bay leaf and cook for few seconds
6. Add the Spinach puree and let it cook till all the moisture evaporates and it starts leaving the sides of the pan. Stir in between and add the vegetables (Carrot, Peas & Corn); mix it well and cook for a minute
   
   
   
   
   
     
   
7. Add the soaked and drained rice and mix well. Add required salt and water and allow to boil
   
8. Once it started boiling, reduce the flame and keep it covered for around 15 mins
9. Once the rice is cooked, switch off he flame and keep it aside for another 10 mins before mixing.
   
10. Mix it gently and serve

 

Yummy Palak Rice!!!