Palak & Chana Pulao

Monday, June 13, 2011


After an overdose of all things mango, I made this over the weekend ...  A simple Pulao with spinach & chickpeas ..

This is very simple to make, you don't even have to add chickpeas, I did because I had some leftover cooked chickpeas on hand & I didn't have any green peas in the pantry. But I loved the addition of chickpeas anyways .. And, I love the fresh green color that spinach lends ... Take a look

Palak & Chana Pulao

You Will Need:
  • 4 bunches of spinach -
  • 1/4 cup chickpeas - soaked overnight or for 6 hrs
  • 1 cup Basmati rice
  • 4 green chillies
  • 2 onions - sliced lengthwise
  • 3 -4 cloves
  • 2 sticks of cinnamon
  • A small piece of ginger
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp Garam Masala
  • 1 tsp Desi Ghee
  • Garlic - 3 cloves
  • Salt as per taste
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
How To:
  • Wash basmati rice in several changes of water. Soak in water & set aside for 30 mins. Meanwhile, wash & clean spinach. Chop finely & blanch along with green chillies. Once cool, grind into a smooth paste along with ginger & garlic.
  • Pressure cook chickpeas with a little bit of salt & set aside.
  • In a pressure cooker, Heat a tsp of desi ghee, add drained basmati rice & saute until aromatic. Add 1 1/4 cups of water & pressure cook. Once cool,  spread rice on a wide plate & set aside to cool
  • Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan, add bay leaves, cloves & cinnamon. Add chopped onions & saute until they turn pink. To this add cooked chickpeas & add spinach paste & some salt. Cook on low flame for about 5 mins.
  • To this, add cooked rice, Garam Masala & mix well. Let it stand on low flame for about 5 mins for the flavours to absorb. Keep tossing in between so that the bottom doesn't get burnt
  • Add lemon juice & check for salt again. Give it a gentle mix.
  • Let it stand for about 5 mins.

Transfer to a serving bowl .. Serve with raita .. Enjoi !!!

NOTE: I am obsessed with making rice first & then mixing it with the prepared gravy .. But you can go ahead and add uncooked rice, water & pressure cook until  done :) Its a lot more easier, I just don't know, why I can't get myself to do it ...

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