Spinach Biryani – Palak Biryani – Pressure Cooker Biryani

Spinach Biryani is an easy and nutritious one pot meal, perfect for lunch boxes. This Spinach Biryani happened on the day I had nothing in the fridge except for spinach. We were in no mood for Spinach Kootu, rice etc etc. All we wanted was Biryani 🙂 Trust me, this tasted totally yumm! We loved the aroma that filled the house and while opening the cooker. It was just wow! I was actually wondering if I should grind the spinach or use it as is. Ended up with the second choice. Shall update here when I try the other here. Post updated with video..

Here is the video..

Now to the recipe..

[Preparation Time-15 mins : Cooking Time- 30 mins]

Spinach Biryani Ingredients:

• Basmati Rice – 2 cups
• Water – 3 cups (see tips)
• Spinach – 2 cups (tightly packed)
• Onion – 2 (sliced)
• Tomato – 3
• Oil / Ghee – 1 1/2 tbsp + 1 1/2 tbsp
• Bay leaf – 1
• Cloves – 3
• Cardamom – 2
• Salt – as needed
• Chilli powder – 1 tsp
• Biryani masala powder – 1 tsp
• Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
• Mint leaves – a handful

To grind into a paste:

• Green Chilly – 1
• Ginger – 1 inch pc
• Garlic – 5 cloves

Method:

• Take green chilly, ginger and garlic in a mixer and grind it into a paste. Heat a pressure cooker with oil and ghee and temper with bay leaf, cloves and cardamom. Add sliced onions and saute until transparent. Now add the chilli,ginger,garlic paste and saute unil raw smell goes off. Finally add chopped tomatoes and saute.

• Add salt, chilli powder, turmeric powder, biryani masala powder and mix well. Cook in low-medium flame until oil separates from it.Add the cleaned and roughly chopped spinach to it.

• Saute for a couple of mins so that the spinach leaves shrink. U will get a nice aroma. Now add mint leaves and washed basmati rice.

• Mix gently and add 3 cups of water. Check for salt. Pressure cook for 1 whistle and simmer for 7-8 mins. Switch off the flame. Once the pressure is released fluff it with a fork.

Thats it! Yummy and healthy Spinach Biryani is ready!

Serve hot with raita of your choice.

Tips:

1. Do not skip mint leaves. It gives a unique flavour.
2. Adding coconut milk gives a rich flavour. U can add half and half too.
3. I felt adding 3 cups of water was a bit too much as the spinach let out some water. U can add 2 and 3/4 cups of water if u want.

– By Sundari Nathan