Vegetable Pulao Instant Pot

This instant pot vegetable pulao is a delightful one pot rice dish that is super flavourful.

Serve it with some yogurt raita or with a curry. It is perfect.

Vegetable Pulao is made pretty regularly in my home. Always made with the fragrant Indian basmati rice, it is flavoured with whole spices, coconut oil and has loads of vegetables.

This is a satisfying one-pot meal if you just add some protein of choice to it while cooking.

Rice comes out well cooked yet fluffy, and this dish will work as a perfect side for any meal.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Substitutions and Variations
• Tips for Making the Perfect Instant Pot Vegetable Pulao
• Serving Suggestions
• Stepwise Pictures
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 💬 Reviews

You may also like Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli, Instant Pot Kheer or Rice Pudding.

Ingredients

1. Basmati Rice: The most important ingredient for a fragrant and tasty pulao.

I used 2 cups long-grained Indian basmati rice from brands like Daawat, ITC etc. that I have soaked.

2. Whole Spices: Bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and cumin seeds are used.

3. Coconut Oil: Coconut oil works very well.

If you eat dairy then you can use ghee.

4. Ginger garlic paste: This provides a nice flavor to the pulao.

5. Chopped veggies: Sliced onions are used for their delicious caramelized flavor. Sliced chillies for heat.

Use any other veggies that you have. I have used chopped beans, carrots and shelled peas here.

Substitutions and Variations

This is a fairly customizable recipe.

1. Rice: While basmati rice is my favorite, you can use other non-sticky rice varieties like Indian sona masoori too here with a slightly different flavor profile.

2. Vegetables: Any vegetables in your fridge work like cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts even potatoes.

3. Oil: While the recipe uses coconut oil, you can use ghee or butter if you eat dairy.

4. Spices: Vary the whole spices as per availability. But definitely use some.

Tips for Making the Perfect Instant Pot Vegetable Pulao

1. Use basmati rice for making your pulao. It is fragrant and delicious.

2. Soaking basmati rice before cooking makes it fluffy with separate grains.

Although, I have cooked basmati rice without pre-soaking when in rush and it still comes out quite good.

3. Use fresh whole spices for their rich, fragrant taste. They flavour the oil and in turn flavor your pulao.

4. Saute the onions well till they are rich golden brown, as they leave a nice sweet caramelised flavour in the pulao.

You can air fry onions too.

5. Use vegetables that have been evenly cut and cook in the way mentioned so that they don’t get overcooked.

6. Use any vegetables of choice. I generally just peek in the fridge and use what’s available.

Serving Suggestions

Vegetable Pulao tastes fantastic with the following accompaniments. Pair with what you like.

1. Cucumber Raita: Raita paired with vegetable pulao is very common in Indian homes.

It’s creamy, soothing, and just the perfect partner to balance out the rich flavors. Use plant-based or dairy yogurt for your raita.

2. Curry: Indian curries like chole masala, matar paneer or chicken curry pair perfectly with a sublime pulao. Try it.

3. Salad: A simple salad of fresh veggies is perfect as side dish for pulao.

From a simple cucumber tomato salad to carrot and cabbage salad to this avocado cucumber salad, all work well.

4. Roasted or Fried Papad: These are commonly served with pulao and enhance the flavors with their crunch.

5. Mango or Lime Pickle: For adding that zing or spice hit.

6. Lentils: You can't go wrong with a dal tadka or any other lentil curry of choice.

Stepwise Pictures

Wash and soak basmati rice in water for about 15 - 30 minutes.

In the instant pot, turn on the Saute mode. Add 1 tbsp. coconut oil, let it melt.

Add the whole spices and fry for 30 seconds.

Add 1 chopped onion and sliced green chillies, fry till onions are golden brown.

If you like non-spicy, skip green chillies.

Add ¼ tsp. salt to facilitate faster browning. After onions are golden brown, add 1.5 tsp. ginger garlic paste and saute for 3 minutes while stirring.

Add in the chopped veggies and saute for 2 minutes more while stirring.

Now add 2 and ¼ cups of water and bring to a rolling boil.

Add ½ tsp. garam masala (optional) at this stage. Take soaked and drained rice and add to the boiling water. Mix well and taste the water.

It should taste salty. If not add some more salt. This will ensure that your pulao is salted properly.

Now set Instant Pot on pressure cooker mode and time for 6 minutes.

After pressure cooking is done and it beeps, cool for 4 minutes naturally after which release steam manually.

Open the instant pot and lightly fluff the rice. Your vegetable pulao in instant pot is ready. Garnish with cilantro leaves. Enjoy with yogurt raita.

Pressure cooking:

Repeat the sauteeing process in pressure cooker just like you did in Instant pot.

Pressure cook for one whistle and let the pressure release naturally. Serve hot.

You can make it covered in a pan as well. You will need to add more water and cook till the rice is done.

Here's the recipe card:

📖 Recipe Card

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You may also try Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas.