Pulao recipe (Vegetable pulao)

Pulao recipe – stovetop & instant pot versions with step by step photos & video. Veg pulao or vegetable pulao is a basic Indian style rice pilaf that is aromatic, delicious, healthy & super quick to make for a meal. This detailed step by step recipe post will teach you how to make pulao recipe at home with basic pantry ingredients. You can use either a pot or a cooker.

If you are new to Indian cuisine, these faqs may help you

About pulao

Pulao is a one pot rice dish made by cooking fragrant basmati rice with aromatic spices, herbs & sometimes stock. There are many kinds of pulao recipes made in India like vegetable pulao, Matar pulao, tawa pulao, Coconut milk pulao, zarda pulao, kashmiri pulao & Chicken pulao.

This veg pulao recipe is one of the basic dish made often in many Indian homes. It is also the one most commonly found on the menu for parties, buffets & celebrations served along with a yogurt raita.

There are a few different methods of making vegetable pulao recipe. Each region has a different way of making it. I am sharing a simple generic veg pulao recipe that we make at home. It tastes super delicious & is very fragrant.

This not only goes well for a regular or a special meal but is also great to pack in office & school lunch boxes.

Since this is the simplest of the Indian rice dishes made with very little preparation, it is super quick & ridiculously easy to make even for a party when you have a crowd.

How to make veg pulao (stepwise photos)

Preparation for pulao

You need to prepare the ingredients first. Rinse 1½ cups basmati rice a few times until the water runs clear. Then soak it and set aside for at least 15 to 20 mins. Meanwhile prepare the veggies.

• 1 medium onion thinly sliced & 1 green chilli slit
• 1 medium carrot (chopped)
• half cup green peas
• 4 French beans (chopped)
• Handful of mint leaves
• 1½ teaspoon ginger garlic paste (¾ inch piece ginger and 3 garlic cloves)

If you want you can also make a fine paste of ginger, garlic, green chilies and mint leaves.

Tempering

1. Add 2 tablespoons oil or ghee to a cooker or pot. Add whole spices –

• 1 bay leaf
• 2 inch cinnamon
• 4 cloves
• 4 green cardamom
• ½ to ¾ teaspoon shahi jeera or jeera
• 1 star anise (optional, but recommended)
• 1 pinch nutmeg (optional)
• little dagad phool (stone flower) (optional)
• 1 small strand mace (optional)

2. When the spices begin to sizzle, add one thinly sliced onions. And then 1 to 2 slit green chilies. Saute them well.

3. When the onions turn golden, add 1½ teaspoon ginger garlic paste.

4. Saute well until the raw smell of ginger garlic disappears. Do not burn.

5. Add mixed veggies and chopped mint/ pudina. I use peas, beans and carrots most of the times. You can also use potatoes and a handful of split cashews or softened soya chunks if you like.

6. Next saute everything well until the mint smells good. Usually it takes about 2 to 3 minutes.

7. Pour 2½ cups water if making in cooker and then add ½ teaspoon salt as well.

If cooking in a pot, pour 3 cups water.

Making vegetable pulao recipe

8. Bring the water to a rolling boil, then add soaked & drained rice. Ensure there is no water in the rice, otherwise the veg pulao will turn mushy.

9. Stir gently and taste test the water. If needed add more salt.

If making in pressure cooker: Cover the lid and cook veg pulao in pressure cooker on a medium high flame for one whistle. For al dente rice, Immediately I release the pressure of the cooker manually with the help of a spatula.

If cooking in a pot, cover the pot with the lid. Cook on a low flame until the water is absorbed and rice is cooked completely. Perfectly done veg pulao in a pot should have no more moisture at the bottom and the rice should be fully done. Once done, turn off the stove and cover the pot. Let it rest for 10 mins so the rice grains turn fluffy.

10. Gently mix everything with a spatula or fluff up the rice with a fork.

Serve veg pulao hot or warm with shorba or raita.

Serving suggestions

This vegetable pulao can be served without any side dishes. However a basic Raita compliments the meal. This boondi raita is our favorite.

For special occasions or when we have guests home, we serve vegetable pulao with a Salan or Shorba – Sherva.

Non-vegetarians can serve veg pulao with Egg curry or with Chicken curry or any grilled dishes like Kababs. However if you are short of time, just enjoy it with some plain Curd & papads.

Pro tips

• Spices: Always use good quality whole spices as it is the key to make a aromatic veg pulao. You can also crush the spices lightly & use to release the aroma.
• Herbs: Do not skip fresh mint or pudina leaves as it the next key ingredient that infuses aroma to the veg pulao.
• Rice: Normally basmati rice is used to make vegetable pulao. But if you do not have, just use any other kind of rice. You will need to adjust the water as needed depending on the rice.
• Pulao masala: For more aromatic veg pulao, you can make a paste of onions, ginger garlic, mint, cinnamon and cardamoms. This paste can be made ahead and refrigerated. If you have this paste & mixed veggies ready in the fridge, then making vegetable pulao just takes less than 15 mins.

How to cook the best pulao

Though the ingredients used are the key to make a fragrant and delicious veg pulao, the cooking procedure also matters the most.

A perfectly cooked vegetable pulao should have fluffy, separate rice grains that are not sticky & not mushy yet fully cooked.

The dish must have a unique aroma of mint and whole spices like cinnamon, cardamoms & cloves. Here are the key pointers to cook the best veg pulao.

• Rinsing: Always rinse the rice well for at least 3 times until the water runs clear. This reduces the starch from the rice grains which is the culprit to mushy & sticky veg pulao.
• Soaking: Soak rice for at least 15 to 20 mins. When soaked rice grains absorb water and swell up to the maximum when cooked making them fluffy & perfectly cooked.
• Frying rice: If you are making plain pulao without veggies then you can roast the drained rice in ghee & spices. For vegetable pulao, I do not fry the rice as most times I have experienced the soaked rice grains break when fried with veggies.
• Ratio: Rice to water ratio is the key to get fully cooked grainy pulao. Adjust the amount of water depending on the rice. Add water according to the cooking method opted by you. More details below in the recipe card.

Methods to cook pulao

There are different methods I follow to make vegetable pulao. It can be made in a

1. Pressure cooker – I have included the instructions in the recipe card
2. Pot or pan – Instructions mentioned in the recipe card
3. Electric cooker – Saute the spices, then the onions, ginger garlic, mint & vegetables in a small pan. Then transfer this to a electric cooker along with rice, salt and water. Cook as you would prepare normal rice with the same amount of water you use for regular cooking.
4. Instant pot – Instructions below

Variations

There are so many different variations of making veg pulao. The basic one is made with mixed vegetables. I make vegetable pulao with most veggies & even with greens.

If you are a health nut like me you may like to explore these options for fussy folks Carrot rice, Beetroot rice, Palak rice, Methi rice. There are also some vegetable pulao recipes made with precooked rice.

Recipe card