Palak Rice

Back to blogging after a long time! An elevation in professional life; I got promoted! Took quite some time getting used to my extended work timings, new responsibilities, new workplace and new colleagues (yes, promotion includes transfer too). Now, thanks to all the festivals and public holidays, I got some time and patience to write again.

I have many pictures ready for my posts but I chose Palak Rice / Spinach Rice out of them all because it’s one of my favourites. My acquaintance with Palak Rice happened a couple of years ago when a colleague got it for lunch. The Palak/Spinach fanatic in me immediately asked her the recipe and I tried it at home. The next day Mummy prepared it her way and I loved it even more.

Palak Rice in itself is flavourful and so need not be accompanied by any side dish. A humble raita could be an option, if necessary. Moreover, it’s loaded with nutrients too. I always add corn and capsicum in this rice. The story behind that is my love for the ‘Spinach and Corn sandwich’ at Café Coffee Day. I don’t know if it’s still available though.

Ingredients:

Palak/Spinach – one bunch, roughly 3 cups when chopped

Sweet Corn – half a cup

Capsicum/Green Bell Pepper – 1

Garam Masala – 1 tsp

Green Chilli – 1

Onion – 1

Tomato – 1

Coriander leaves – 5-6 sprigs

Cinnamon – 1 inch piece

Ginger

Garlic

Cooked Rice – 3 cups

How I prepare:

1.     Saute washed and chopped palak in little oil. Alternately, you may also drop it in boiling water for a minute.

2.  Grind together – Sauteed/blanched palak, chopped tomato, cinnamon, a small piece of ginger, 3 pods of garlic, coriander leaves and garam masala.

3.     In a pan, heat oil, add cumin seeds. Next, add chopped onion, then corn.

4.    When the corn is half-cooked, add chopped capsicum and salt. Cook for a 2-3 minutes. Next add the ground palak mixture.

5.     Cook until oil separates and then add cooked rice and mix well.

To save time, corn can be pressure-cooked beforehand and added later into the rice. Palak rice makes for a wholesome meal. Palak rice also can be made directly in the cooker with raw rice, but then you lose the beautiful green colour!