Veggie Rice (to be specific, Palak Khichdi)

My previous attempts at making khichdi or fried rice using the pressure cooker have always resulted in quarter-cooked rice or mushy yucky rice! Not this time. It was just perfect - guess I finally got the knack of making rice in pressure cooker ;)

This is a recipe adapted from Archy's recipe book blog at http://archysrecipes.blogspot.com/2008/03/palak-rice.html#. There are some minor variations in terms of ingredients and measures. Hope you enjoy this too!

Ingredients (Serves 3)
3 tbsp oil
3 Cloves
3 black Caradamons
2 Cinnamon sticks
3 Bay leafs
1/2 tsp Fennel seeds
1/2 tsp Cumin seeds

1/2 onion sliced
1 tsp each of ginger and garlic paste

1 Potato medium cubed
1/2 cup cauliflower chopped into small flowers
1/2 cup of Palak/ spinach leaves chopped
1.5 cup Basmathi Rice
1/2 medium size Tomato cubed
4 green chillies, whole
1/2 tsp Tumeric powder
1/2 tsp Garam masala powder
Salt as per taste - almost a tbsp

3.25 cup Water

1. Heat oil in the presser cooker. Then add the spices (cloves, cardamoms, cinnamon, bay leaves), fennel seeds, cumin seeds and let them roast lightly. Add chopped onions. After a few mins, add ginger-garlic paste. Fry them for 1-2 minutes.
2. Now add the cubed potatoes and let it cook for 1-2 mins. Then add chopped cauliflower and spinach leaves. Add basmathi rice and fry for 1-2 minutes.
3. Add tomatoes, green chillies, turmeric , garam masala powder, salt and water and pressure cook untill 2 whistle as Archy recommends in her recipe. Since I have Futura Pressure Cooker which does not have whistles, I let the mixture boil in high heat, then put the lid on in High heat and let the hiss sound come. After a minute or two of hiss sound, let it continue cooking in Medium heat for another 10 mins. After 10 mins, put the heat off and let it stand till the lid opens freely and the pressure has released.



I loved having it as-is without any accompaniments - maybe the first rice recipe that I don't even want raita. Have it hot in a few minutes of it being done. R had it with yogurt. Am sure some crispy papad will also go well with it.

The non-veg lover part of me tells me that adding some cooked mutton to this recipe will also taste great. Will give that a shot some other day! ;)