Vegetable Pulao: A Fragrant One-Pot Rice Dish

Name: How to Make Vegetable Pulao: A Fragrant One-Pot Rice Dish | Easy & Delicious Vegetable Pulao: A Fragrant One-Pot Rice Dish Recipe
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: south-indian-malabar-cuisine

Vegetable Pulao is a mildly spiced, fragrant rice dish cooked with basmati rice, vegetables, and whole spices. It’s light, nutritious, and perfect for lunch, dinner, or as a festive side dish

prep time 15 Mins

cook time 25 Mins

chef Ankita Singh

Step 1

Prep rice
Wash basmati rice 2–3 times until water runs clear. Soak for 20 minutes, then drain.

Step 2

Heat spices
Heat ghee or oil in a heavy pan or pressure cooker. Add cumin, bay leaf, cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon. Sauté for a few seconds until aromatic.

Step 3

Cook base
Add sliced onions, ginger, garlic, and green chilli. Cook until onions turn golden.

Step 4

Add vegetables
Add carrot, beans, peas, and cauliflower. Sauté for 2–3 minute

Step 5

Add rice & water
Stir in drained rice and sauté for 1 minute. Add water, salt, and garam masala. Bring to a boil.

Step 6

Cook pulao
Cover and cook on low flame until rice is fluffy and water is absorbed (about 15 minutes). If using a pressure cooker, cook for 2 whistles.

Step 7

Finish & serve
Let rest for 5 minutes. Fluff gently with a fork. Garnish with coriander and lemon juice.

Tips and Tricks

Always soak basmati rice for 20 minutes to get long, fluffy grains.
Don’t over-stir rice after cooking; it breaks easily.
For richer flavour, fry 8–10 cashews and add while serving.
Adjust vegetables as per season — corn, capsicum, or spinach work well too.
Serve hot with boondi raita, cucumber raita, or plain curd.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, sauté the base in sauté mode, then pressure cook on high for 6 minutes.

Yes, use oil instead of ghee.

Pulao is lighter, made in one pot, and mildly spiced, while biryani is layered, richer, and more aromatic.

Calories 280 Kcal

Total Fat 8 g

Carbs 50 g

Protein 6 g

ESSENTIAL ITEMS

1.5 cups Basmati rice

3 cups Water

2 tbsp Ghee or Oil

1 tsp Cumin Seeds

1 piece Bay Leaf

3 piece Cloves

2 piece Green Cardamom

1 piece Cinnamom Stick

1 piece Sliced Onion

1 slice Green Chili

3 piece Garlic Cloves

0.5 cup Carrot

0.5 cup Beans

0.5 cup Green Peas

as required Salt

0.5 tsp Garam Masala

2 tbsp Coriander leaves

OPTIONAL

0.5 cup Cauliflower florets

1 tsp Lemon juice

Recipe by:

Ankita Singh

255 Recipes

View Profile