Palak rice/pulao

Palak Rice (or Palak Pulao)

Palak (Spinach) - 2 bunches

Rice - 1/2 kg (basmati or any regular rice)

Mixed vegetables - 2 cups (optional) - Beans, Potato, carrot, green peas

Tomato - 4, chopped

Onion - 1 large, sliced lengthwise

Lime juice - 1 tbsp

Ginger - 2"

Garlic - 8-9 cloves

Green chillies - 6-7

Pepper powder - 1 tsp

Corriander leaves - 1/2 cup

Mint leaves - 1/4 cup

Biryani masala or Garam masala - 1 tsp

Salt

Some whole garam masalas (dalchini, lavang, pepper, tejpatta)

Oil

If using normal rice, cook the rice with some salt and water, drain water and keep aside. 

Cook the vegetables with salt and keep aside.

Wash the palak and blanch it with some water. Let it cool. Make paste of it along with ginger-garlic, green chilly, corriander and mint leaves. 

In a kadai, heat oil, add the whole garam masala and saute, add onions, salt and saute. Add biryani masala and lime juice. Add the palak paste and saute till its well cooked. Add tomatoes and cook till it's soft and mashed. Now add the cooked vegetables and saute. Lastly add the cooked rice and blend it well with the masalas for 5 minutes on low flame. Palak rice is ready.

Serve hot. It can be had by itself or serve with raita and pappad.