Fragrant, comforting, and easy to serve as a complete meal, Easy Vegetable Pulao Recipe is a vegetarian Indian main course made with basmati rice, mixed veggies (carrots, beans, peas, cauliflower and potato), and onion in about 25 minutes. The recipe lays out the ingredients and each cooking step clearly, so you can adjust seasoning, texture, and serving size for your own kitchen.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 10 minutes
  • Cook time: 15 minutes
  • Total time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Main Course
  • Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • 1.5-2 cups mixed veggies (carrots, beans, peas, cauliflower and potato)
  • 1 medium onion (sliced thinly)
  • 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
  • 2 green chillies (finely chopped)
  • 2 tablespoon mint leaves
  • 2 tablespoons coriander (cilantro) (chopped)
  • 1.5 cups water (depends on rice quality)
  • salt (to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon lime juice
  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil ((or ghee))

Whole Spices:

  • 1 teaspoon jeera (cumin) seeds
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 3 cloves
  • 2 cardamom
  • 1 inch cinnamon stick
  • 1 small star anise (optional)
  • 1 small stone flower (optional)
  • 1 small mace (optional)

Method

Instant Pot Method:

  1. Firstly, press SAUTE mode on Instant Pot. Heat oil or ghee, add all the whole spices, and saute for a few seconds.
  2. Next, add onions, green chilies, and saute for 2-3 minutes until they turn soft and light brown - stir regularly.
  3. Then add ginger-garlic paste and saute till the raw smell of ginger and garlic disappears.
  4. Add mixed vegetables, mint leaves, and cook for a minute.
  5. Next, add rinsed basmati rice, water, salt and mix everything well. Adjust seasoning at this stage. Deglaze the pot to remove any food particle stuck at the bottom of the pot.
  6. Close the Instant Pot with pressure valve to Sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.
  7. Once the Pot beeps, Quick Pressure Release. Remove the lid away from you, Squeeze some lime juice and add coriander leaves.
  8. Vegetable Pulao is ready. Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.

Stovetop Indian Pressure Cooker Instructions

  1. Follow the same steps as for the Instant Pot. Add basmati rice, 2 cups of water, salt and mix well. Pressure cook on the stovetop for 1 whistle on medium flame and let the pressure release naturally.

Stovetop Pot Instructions

  1. Follow the same steps, as Instant Pot.
  2. Add basmati rice, 2.5 cups of water, salt and mix well. Let everything come to a boil. Then reduce the flame to low and tightly cover the vessel with a lid. Cook on a very low flame until all the water has evaporated.
  3. Then switch off the flame and let it rest covered for at least 15 minutes. Fluff up the rice gently. Squeeze some lime juice. Vegetable Pulao is ready. Serve with Raita or plain yogurt.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.