Vegetable Rice Pilaf

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Basmati Rice rinsed

  • 1 tbsp Ghee or Oil

  • 1 GreenChiliPepper (optional)

  • 1/2 cup Onion sliced

  • 1/2 tbsp Ginger minced

  • 1/2 tbsp Garlic minced

  • 1/2 cup Tomato chopped

  • 1 Potato medium, cut into small pieces

  • 2 cups Mixed Vegetables (Carrots, Green Beans, Peas, Corn) frozen or fresh

  • 1 1/4 cup Water

  • Spices

    • 1/2 tsp Ground Turmeric

    • 1/2 tsp Cayenne or Red Chili powder

    • 1/2 tsp Garam Masala

    • 1 tsp Salt

    Whole Spices (Optional, you can also use these spices ground, and in smaller quantities)

  • 1 Bay leaf

  • 1 tsp Cumin seeds

  • 1 stick Cinnamon

  • 1 Star anise

  • 4 Cloves

  • Instructions

Instructions

  1. Start the instant pot in sauté mode and heat it. Add ghee, whole spices and sauté them for 30 seconds until the cumin seeds change color.

  2. After they start to splutter, add the green chili, onion, ginger and garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes until onion turns transparent.

  3. Add tomato and spices. Mix well.

  4. Add potato and mixed vegetables. Mix well. 

  5. Add the rice and water. Mix the rice with the vegetables. If anything is stuck to the bottom of the pot, deglaze it. Close the lid with vent in sealing position.

  6. Change the instant pot setting to MANUAL or pressure cook mode for 4 minutes at high pressure.  

  7. When the instant pot beeps, do a 10 minute NPR. This means let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then release the pressure manually.

  8. Fluff the rice gently. Vegetable Pilaf is ready. Enjoy with homemade yogurt or raita.

  9. Note: Remove the insert from the instant pot, so the lower layer of rice does not overcook from the hot base.

recipe adapted from pipingpotcurry