Spinach rice (Palak rice)

This is a variation from the usual Coriander rice or Mint/Pudina rice that's popular in the Indian kitchens. Here, spinach is blended with spices and mixed with rice and it's a really good way to make your kids include spinach in their diet. Make it richer by grinding coconut and cashewnuts with the spinach paste ...Wah!!!

This does not take more than 30 minutes to complete, so you can make this for a weekday dinner when you want something healthy, quick and filling! It's also ideal to pack in a lunchbox!

Spinach Rice

What You Need -

• Rice, preferably Basmati - 1.5 cups
• Spinach - 2 bunches
• Green chillies - 4 nos
• Onion, chopped - 1 big or 2 small  (Sambar onions (very small ones) taste better)
• Tomatoes - 3 (chopped)
• Coconut (grated) - 4 to 5 tbsp
• Cashewnuts - 12 + 6
• Home-made Curry powder - 1 1/2 tsp
• Biriyani leaf - 1
• Cinnamon - 1/2 stick, powdered
• Pulao powder - 1 tsp (optional)
• Salt - to taste
• Oil - 2 tsp
• Ghee - 1 tsp

How To -

• Cook spinach in boiling water and let cool. Strain off water.

• Make it into a paste by blending along with cashewnuts, coconut and curry powder.

• Take a kadai, fry biriyani leaf in oil and then add powdered cinnamon. Add pulao masala if you like.
• Add slit green chillies, chopped onions and fry for 3 mins. Then goes in the tomatoes.

• Mix in the prepared spinach paste to the kadai and cook until the raw smell vanishes.

• Add cooked basmati rice and mix gently. Add salt.

• Garnish with ghee-roasted cashewnuts and fresh cilantro/coriander leaves.

Serve with Onion-Tomato Raitha and/or Chips/Vadam :)