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Instant Pot Vegetable Rice Pulao

Veg Pulao or Vegetable Pilaf is an easy one pot rice dish mixed with a variety of vegetables and mildly flavored with spices.

Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 286 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Main Course
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup basmati rice (1 cup=250ml) rinsed
  • 1 tablespoon ghee or oil
  • 1 green chili pepper (optional)
  • 1/2 cup onion sliced
  • 1/2 tablespoon ginger minced
  • 1/2 tablespoon garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup tomato chopped
  • 1 potato medium, cut into small peices
  • 2 cups mixed vegetables (Carrots, Green Beans, Peas, Corn, Edmame) frozen or fresh
  • 1 1/4 cup water
Spices
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground Turmeric (Haldi powder)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne or Red chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon salt
Whole Spices
  • 1 Bay leaf (Tej Patta)
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera)
  • 1 stick cinnamon (Dalchini)
  • 1 Star anaise
  • 4 cloves (Laung)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Start the instant pot in sauté mode and heat it. Add ghee, whole spices and sauté them for 30 seconds until the cumin seeds change color.
  2. After they start to splutter, add the green chili, onion, ginger and garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes until onion turn transparent.
  3. Add tomato and spices. Mix well.
  4. Add potato and mixed vegetables. Mix well. 
  5. Add the rice and water. Mix the rice with the vegetables. If anything is stuck to the bottom of the pot, deglaze it. Close the lid with vent in sealing position.
  6. Change the instant pot setting to MANUAL or pressure cook mode for 4 minutes at high pressure.  
  7. When the instant pot beeps, do a 10 minute NPR. This means let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then release the pressure manually.
  8. Fluff the rice gently. Vegetable Pilaf is ready. Enjoy with homemade yogurt or raita.
  9. Note: Remove the insert from the instant pot, so the lower layer of rice does not overcook from the hot base. 

Notes

  • Adding whole spices is optional.  You can enjoy this vegetable pilaf even if you don't have all the whole spices in your pantry.
  • To reduce spice, skip the cayenne. 
  • Stovetop Variation: If you don't have an instant pot, you could also prepare this beet pulao in the stovetop pressure cooker.  I suggest one whistle for the rice, and let the pressure release naturally.   
  • Vegan Variation: Use your favorite vegetable oil to make this pilaf.  
  • This recipe was created in a 6qt Instant Pot DUO60 Multi-use Pressure Cooker.

Nutrition Information

Calories 286kcal (14%) Carbohydrates 55.9g (19%) Protein 6.3g (13%) Fat 4.1g (6%) Saturated Fat 3.1g (16%) Sodium 609mg (25%) Potassium 458mg (13%) Fiber 4.9g (20%) Sugar 3.2g (6%) Calcium 40mg (4%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 286

% Daily Value*

Calories 286kcal 14%
Carbohydrates 55.9g 19%
Protein 6.3g 13%
Fat 4.1g 6%
Saturated Fat 3.1g 16%
Sodium 609mg 25%
Potassium 458mg 10%
Fiber 4.9g 20%
Sugar 3.2g 6%
Calcium 40mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.