After all that talk, I’m hungry. Let’s have a nice bowl of hot tomato spinach pulao, shall we? If you want to skip the stepwise pictures, you can scroll to the end of this post for the recipe in one place.If you want to check out more pulao recipes, then here’s my pressure cooker veg pulao, aloo capsicum pulao, palak khichdi recipe, and simple paneer pulao. You can also check out this Indian quinoa pulao recipe.
- 3 cups cooked rice
- 4 cups chopped green spinach
- 1 grated carrot
- 2 chopped tomatoes
- 1 tbsp tomato paste (or add another tomato)
- 1 sliced onion
- 3 cloves chopped garlic
- 1 tbsp coriander powder / malli podi / dania powder
- 1 tsp jeera / jeerakam / cumin seeds
- 2 tsp red chilly powder
- 1 tbsb oil
- Roasted cashew nuts to garnish (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Heat oil and fry the onions and garlic for 3 mins. Add the tomatoes to this and cook well until soft and mashed.
- Add the coriander powder, cumin and red chilly powder. Mix well and fry for 2 mins.
- Add tomato paste to this, if using, and mix well.
- Add chopped spinach and grated carrot.
- Close and cook for 10 mins until soft.
- Add salt and cooked rice to this. Fold gently and serve after 3o mins, garnished with roasted cashew nuts.
- Serve tomato spinach pulao hot with papad or chips and raita.
Step by Step Spinach Tomato Pulao Recipe
First, chop 4 cups of green spinach, 2 tomatoes and grate 1 carrot and set aside.
Heat 1 tbsp oil in a kadai
Add 1 sliced onion and 3 cloves of chopped garlic to this.
Fry until the onions turn transparent and brown slightly.
Time to bring out the 2 chopped tomatoes. Add these to the fried onions.
Cook well until the tomatoes have wilted and turned soft.
To this, add 1 tbsp coriander powder and 1 tsp jeera or cumin. Mix well.
Time to spice things up a bit. Bring out your red chilly powder and add about 2 tsp of that. Go on, dare yourself and add another tsp if you wish 😉
We’ve already added 2 tomatoes but since this is tomato spinach pulao, we will need a more dense tomato flavour. Canned tomato paste works best.
Add 1 tbsp of that and mix well. If you don’t want to use the paste, add 1 more large tomato in the first step.
To this, add the chopped spinach and..
.. grated carrot and mix well.
Close the kadai and let it cook on medium-low fire for about 10 mins. Don’t add any water, the spinach will give out its own water while cooking making the mixture soft.
Open kadai carefully after 10 mins and add salt.
Add about 3 cups cooked rice to this mixture. I used basmati rice but any rice will do, even warmed leftover rice.
Gently fold from one side so that the rice isn’t mashed up too much.
Garnish with some roasted cashews and serve hot. I roasted the cashew nuts in the microwave on medium power for a minute. Saves time and oil.
Serve tomato spinach pulao hot with papad or chips and raita.
For tomato spinach pulao recipe in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Urdu, etc please use the Google translate button in the sidebar.
Cook says
July 1, 2016 at 2:40 amInstead of cooked rice. After making the gravy cook the rice in that itself with required water added. When the rice is cooked in gravy itself it will have more flavour. You can use pressure cooker if you want.
nags says
July 8, 2016 at 11:08 amthat’s another way i make it too 🙂
Anonymous says
February 12, 2013 at 5:16 pmHi Nags,
Its always a big question mark for me as what to prepare for lunch to my husband who is fussy about food. He does not like tomato rice and even carrot rice.Prepared this tomato spinach rice and it became favorite rice for my husband.Prepared this thrice. In addition to the recipe, i have added cloves, bay leaf and cardamom it tasted too good.
Thank you
Anonymous says
February 7, 2013 at 4:02 pmhi made this last nite..i was out of spinach so used pudina and i must tell you pudina and tomato are a wonderful combination. I never thought they would work but the rice turned out wonderful!!!
leena says
January 11, 2013 at 11:51 amamazing website nags…i tried most of ur recipes ,everything came out soo good….thank u so much. i just fell in love with ur pics………keep going…..love to see more recipes….
Anonymous says
September 9, 2012 at 3:57 pmchanna receipe plz
Anonymous says
April 17, 2012 at 10:23 pmI make THE WORST tomato rice ever. Your step by step makes it look doable. I am making this for dinner tonite. Will let you know how it turned out. You have an amazing website.
Nagalakshmi V says
April 18, 2012 at 1:22 amhope you try this tomato spinach rice 🙂 let me know if you do!
Vidya says
March 23, 2012 at 4:25 pmNags, Amazing recipe. I made this for dinner yesterday. My husband and my 20 month old girl loved it:) Thank you and I love the step by step pics!!
Divya Babrekar says
March 3, 2012 at 9:47 amHi Nags,
I made this today for lunch…My husband loved it 🙂 And got donw in a jiffy!!
Themashzee says
January 27, 2012 at 8:47 pmNags, I just love you girl. Your website is deffa the best! I made this today 🙂 and cant wait to eat em all up! XXX Much love
Anonymous says
January 12, 2012 at 7:35 amJust love the way u present it step by step with the pictures.. Brilliant receipe..:)
Anonymous says
September 23, 2011 at 11:23 pmThis is fantastic.Its a wonderful way to learn for the first timers. Great Job!!
Nags says
January 8, 2011 at 12:51 amHope you try the tomato spinach pulao recipe 🙂
Mr Dave says
January 7, 2011 at 12:55 pmWow really delicious, consider yourself bookmarked!! Thankyou.
Nags says
September 3, 2010 at 1:37 amThank you for trying and liking the tomato spinach pulao 🙂
Anonymous says
September 2, 2010 at 12:36 pmThanks it was excellent!
Nags says
April 18, 2010 at 1:24 pmJanu, I have tried normal green spinach (shown here) and red amaranth leaves with this tomato spinach pulao recipe and both turn out very well. You could experiement with different kinds for change in flavours.
janu says
April 18, 2010 at 11:11 amNags, can we use any kind of spinach for this?
Nags says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmBut it IS easy, isn't it 🙂
DEESHA says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmthis is a nice twist to the good old Tomato rice .. I normally make spinach pulao with loags of spinach & tomatoes. I puree spinach so I get a nice green colored rice. This ones really good .. Bookmarked
Chitra says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmIt looks too good..Cute bowl 🙂
Ramya's Mane Adige says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmawesome!!! You have a whole lot of patience, Nags! Have made tomato rice and spinach rice separately, but never tried using them together.. sounds interesting. thanx for the idea 🙂
Bong Mom says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmLovely pic. You know I made a Toor Dal yesterday and from your Yellow dal recipe got the idea to spice it up with Amchur. Loved that touch. Thanks
Sudeshna says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmNags,
This looks so good, I just love spinach and its a new reason to get hold some bunches the next time I visit the market.
Jyoti says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmLooks delicious and healthy/ Love all your step by step pictures
Vijitha Shyam says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmyummy & delicious
RedChillies says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmLoved the last picture, looks pretty. Your step by step recipes are cool ( I can imagine the effort you put into this)
Seena says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmthat looks very good, Nags! Love with tomato.. 🙂
Sree vidya says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmRich, colorful and healthy pulao
Looks yum
Thanks for your nice comments on my blog Nags
Nags says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmhb – I made these in Singapore, well before I came here 🙂
Hari Chandana says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmWhat a delicious pulav.. lovely presentation.. wonderfu step by step pics.. thank you!!
Nags says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmHey Saumya, we usually have it with raita and pickle. My perima serves it with gujarati khadi which is slightly sweet and goes wonderfully well with this variety rice recipe. Try that!
Saumya says
April 1, 2010 at 1:16 pmThanks for this recipe.It was very tasty! Me & My hubby both loved it. BTW, Wat do u suggest to team it with, like some curry or side dish?
Nags says
March 16, 2010 at 1:29 amHey Saumya, we usually have it with raita and pickle. My perima serves it with gujarati khadi which is slightly sweet and goes wonderfully well with this variety rice recipe. Try that!
Saumya says
March 15, 2010 at 6:13 amThanks for this recipe.It was very tasty! Me & My hubby both loved it. BTW, Wat do u suggest to team it with, like some curry or side dish?
rkramadh says
January 28, 2010 at 7:32 pmLooks healthy and yummy! I love your step by step pics and instructions.
Anonymous says
December 7, 2009 at 6:40 amThis looks yummy and I would definitely try this out.
Nags says
November 15, 2009 at 10:55 amRathi – that's awesome 😀 Thanks so much for letting me know, really appreciate that and so glad you liked the spinach pulao recipe 🙂
Rathi says
November 15, 2009 at 6:35 amHi Nags,
Just finished cooking Tomato Spinach Pulao….its turned out "yumm-azzzzzzinngggg"…so full of flavour and simply delicious!!! Love this recipe.It's going to be a regular at my place for sure.Keep up the amazing job.
Cheers
Rathi
Amit says
November 14, 2009 at 5:00 amOnce Again a very easy yet superb tasty treat !!thanks a ton Nagz…
Rathi says
November 13, 2009 at 7:49 pmHey I just came across your site and recipes on Stumbleupon…this is awesome.A lot of us forget how much variety one can spurn vegetarian food.Keep the great recipes coming. I am gonna try out your Tomato Spinach Pulao…will let you know how it turns out…
Cheers
Rathi
Shillu says
August 31, 2009 at 1:27 amThis sounds like a delicious way of using spinach in your meal. I will definitely try this. I am a sucker for any rice recipe!
Arch says
August 30, 2009 at 10:39 amAm trying to post a comment for the third time now 🙁 Browser's giving me a lot of trouble…Love you pics…tried your authentic tomato rice, turned out super ! Thanks !
Nags says
August 30, 2009 at 7:54 amWandering – hahaha that's hilarious! I love palak paneer too and its TH's fave!! I make it quite often actually.
Soma – I click with one hand on the ladle and the other holding the camera. My camera is quite high so I have to go through so many blurred pictures before I get something remotely decent. Its not easy with the bad lighting in the kitchen. Its much easier to click with one hand for the baking pics, the light makes it so much better 🙂
Namratha says
August 29, 2009 at 11:13 pmThat looks very inviting Nags!
Mythreyi Dilip says
August 28, 2009 at 6:27 pmDelicious…….
Soma says
August 28, 2009 at 2:59 pmAwesome recipe & awesome pictures Nags!! looks so tempting & i love that wooden bowl:-)
Girl i do not know how you take photos at every step! but it really helps, it kinda sticks to the head & stays there.
The Wandering Minstrel says
August 28, 2009 at 2:39 pmUgh, ugh, Nags, this looks so delicious!! my only problem with spinach is…when i hold it in my hands, it hypnotizes me and leads me into the kitchen and then i slip into a trance and 20 minutes later, i emerge from the kitchen with a plate of palak paneer in it. it happens on its own, so i cant even stop the damn proces. but…i…promise…to…try…this. promise!!
Hari Chandana says
August 28, 2009 at 5:57 amWhat a delicious pulav.. lovely presentation.. wonderfu step by step pics.. thank you!!
Shobana senthilkumar says
August 27, 2009 at 6:37 pmThank u so much for posting the step by step procedure reaaly very useful…pics r real gud…
LG says
August 27, 2009 at 1:05 pmEasy and quick pulao. Your pictures managed me to feel hungry again 🙂
Nags says
August 27, 2009 at 12:02 pmhb – I made these in Singapore, well before I came here 🙂
Nags says
August 27, 2009 at 12:01 pmLone Acorn – I do in fact. But I use a readymade sauce for that recipe, never tried it from scratch. I get the Wup mushroom soya sauce that is thick. If you add it to cooked mushroom and spinach that's tossed with some garlic, you are good to go. Its MSG free too!
Lone Acorn says
August 27, 2009 at 9:23 amWhat a lovely pulao. Spinach is very helathy and full of nutrition.
I was searching for spniach musroom but couldn't find. DO you know the recipe. Thats a chinese one, made in soya sauce.
My Experiments with Cooking says
August 27, 2009 at 5:11 amGood looking rice. You made all these at S'pore or India? I remember your mention about the bowl.
Sree vidya says
August 27, 2009 at 2:59 amRich, colorful and healthy pulao
Looks yum
Thanks for your nice comments on my blog Nags
Anonymous says
August 27, 2009 at 2:48 amLooks good. Love the tomato paste shot- that looks like the kind we have over here in the states,
I may give this one a go this weekend.
-andrew
Seena says
August 27, 2009 at 2:43 amthat looks very good, Nags! Love with tomato.. 🙂
Nags says
August 27, 2009 at 2:41 amThanks guys! My camera weighs a lot and with one hand shooting, I have so many blurred pics which won't see the 'light' of day 😀
The bowl and fork are from Bali, handmade from coconut shells.
DiDo.. says
August 27, 2009 at 2:40 amperfect one nags…! I have moved to my new cooking blog. Please pick an award from my blog!!!
Thanks,
DiDo
RedChillies says
August 27, 2009 at 2:28 amLoved the last picture, looks pretty. Your step by step recipes are cool ( I can imagine the effort you put into this)
Cinnamon Girl aka Reeni♥ says
August 27, 2009 at 1:12 amWhat a delicious and healthy dish!! I loved the step by step!
RV says
August 26, 2009 at 11:23 pmYummy!!! Beautiful Clicks
chakhlere says
August 26, 2009 at 9:07 pmthats a lovely pulav!!!Yummmmmmy.
Vijitha Shyam says
August 26, 2009 at 7:32 pmyummy & delicious
Jyoti says
August 26, 2009 at 5:11 pmLooks delicious and healthy/ Love all your step by step pictures
Nithya says
August 26, 2009 at 5:01 pmBeautiful pics and lovely recipe. Great job 🙂
jayasri says
August 26, 2009 at 4:43 pmlove the pulav dear, and step-by-step presentation is really good, for a person who is new to cooking, very good, one hand shots, amazing, i try to do all kind of stunts but i get fed up and that's why my snaps are awful
or otherwise i have to mascafy my kids to do it for me hahah…
I love the presentation..,
FoodyGuru (Srimathi) says
August 26, 2009 at 4:36 pmHi nags,
Visiting your blog after a very long time. I liked your step by step recipes. I really like the inclusion of spinach with the tomato. Looks very appetizing.
Sudeshna says
August 26, 2009 at 4:01 pmNags,
This looks so good, I just love spinach and its a new reason to get hold some bunches the next time I visit the market.
maxdavinci says
August 26, 2009 at 3:34 pmperfect for bachelor samiyal!
Zaara says
August 26, 2009 at 3:30 pmOhhh – step-by-step – BRAVO! I always wonder how you geniuses do these things, my camera would fall into the flame or right into a gravy if I attempted these one-hand action shots. Great recipe, great way to sneak in greens into the kids plates. I have to try this out!
Gita says
August 26, 2009 at 3:27 pmNice pictures 🙂 The rice looks delicious.
Bong Mom says
August 26, 2009 at 2:19 pmLovely pic. You know I made a Toor Dal yesterday and from your Yellow dal recipe got the idea to spice it up with Amchur. Loved that touch. Thanks
Ann says
August 26, 2009 at 2:16 pmThe feel altogether was being at your place and having a bowl of awesome pulao you made..thats such a fruitful effort.The pictures from your kitchen are not at all bad..
mona says
August 26, 2009 at 2:12 pmLoved the step by step pictorial. Looks delicious and healthy.
Shri says
August 26, 2009 at 1:55 pmIt is such a wonderful combo!And I love the cute serving bowl you have:)Do you watch Seinfeld by any chance..Yada Yada??!!
Parita says
August 26, 2009 at 1:50 pmAwesome combinations! its always good to have step by step instructions..wish i was half as patient as you are 🙂
Ramya's Mane Adige says
August 26, 2009 at 12:44 pmawesome!!! You have a whole lot of patience, Nags! Have made tomato rice and spinach rice separately, but never tried using them together.. sounds interesting. thanx for the idea 🙂
rekhas kitchen says
August 26, 2009 at 12:40 pmI never mix spinach and tomato but with rice it sounds greatnice step by step pic. very useful post.
Sonu says
August 26, 2009 at 12:25 pmStep by step recipes really time taking and need a good amount of patience. Love pulav in any form.:)
Pari says
August 26, 2009 at 10:36 amI had made Spinch pulao recently and had come out well, I love your step by step presentation and I am very sure the rice has to taste Good.
Chitra says
August 26, 2009 at 10:06 amIt looks too good..Cute bowl 🙂
Lena Rashmin Raj says
August 26, 2009 at 9:28 amNags..last snapis amazing… :)healthy recipe.. 🙂
Raaga says
August 26, 2009 at 9:21 amYou won't believe this… I was linking the buns recipe to my chocolate cookies recipe for this year's janmashtami… and I went through the comments. I saw yours… then reached your first bread baking post. And wondered if you made the chocolate chip buns then… meant to leave you a note, but was in a hurry to finish posting before rushing off to the karaoke!
Glad you liked the buns.
the pulao looks great!
Sushma Mallya says
August 26, 2009 at 9:06 amNice to c step to step pics nags….loved all the pic….Rice looks delicious…
DEESHA says
August 26, 2009 at 8:58 amthis is a nice twist to the good old Tomato rice .. I normally make spinach pulao with loags of spinach & tomatoes. I puree spinach so I get a nice green colored rice. This ones really good .. Bookmarked
RAKS KITCHEN says
August 26, 2009 at 8:56 amRecipe sounds really good,I today tried a new recipe for tomato rice,OMG,terrible it came out….!!
If u wud have posted forenoon,I wud have tried this no,I have all in hand 😛
Nags says
August 26, 2009 at 8:33 amBut it IS easy, isn't it 🙂
Divya Kudua says
August 26, 2009 at 8:27 amStep by step recipes are back again and how..:)
Greens and me don't see eye to eye,though I have started cooking with it reluctantly.Mixing it up with tomato would hide some of spinach's overpowering taste I guess:).You make it seem so easy..:)
Hope you are having a great time in Kottayam:)