Instant Pot Palak Paneer Rice

This is a hassle free recipe for last weekend dinner using instant pot. I love the combination of Spinach and Paneer together in a dish, Palak Paneer Bun Sandwich is one of them. I also have the recipe for Palak Tofu curry on my blog, check it out here.

Ingredients:

 4 cups of baby spinach leaves, roughly chopped

1 cup Basmati Rice

1.5 cups Water

Salt to taste

2 tbsp oil

4-5 garlic cloves, minced

1 finally chopped green chili (optional)

Spices:

1 tsp Garam Masala

1 inch cinnamon stick

1 baby leaf

1 tsp cumin/jeera

2 Cardamom pods

5-6 pepper corns

6 oz/ 170 gms Paneer, cubed

2 tbsp oil to shallow fry Paneer

2 tbsp yogurt

A pinch of red chili powder

Method:

1. Soak basmati rice for 20 mins.

2. Heat a pan and add 2 tbsp oil. Add Paneer cubes and fry on both sides. Remove them in a bowl. Add yogurt, red chili powder and let it marinate for 30 mins.

3. Turn on instant pot on Sauté mode. Heat oil , add cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, Cardamom, pepper corns, bay leaf and fry them for few seconds. 

4. Add garlic and sauté until it’s cooked.

5. Add spinach and green chilies and sauté them until spinach is reduced in volume.

6. Add soaked basmati rice to the instant pot and add water. Make sure all the grains of the rice are immersed in water.

7. Add salt and Garam Masala and stir it in.

8. Turn off sauté mode. Close the instant pot lid. Seal the vent. Pressure cook for 10 mins on high. Let the pressure release naturally.

9. Once the pressure is released, open the lid and add in the marinated Paneer into it. Gently mix in.

10. Serve Palak paneer rice with side of Raita and Pickle.