Why is spinach rice loved by many people?
Spinach rice, also known as Palak Pulao in Indian cuisine, is being chosen by many families thanks to the combination of delicious flavor and high nutritional value. The dish uses fresh spinach and long grain basmati rice, creating a meal that is both full and nutritious.
Spinach is known as a rich source of iron, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C and folate. When combined with rice, the dish provides a balanced source of energy, suitable for both children and adults. In addition, the amount of oil used is quite small, so this is also a suitable choice for people who want to control their weight.
According to Dr. Joan Salge Blake - a nutritionist and professor at Boston University (USA), dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach contain many vitamins, minerals and antioxidant compounds that are beneficial for cardiovascular health as well as the immune system. Including these vegetables in daily meals helps improve the overall nutritional quality.
One of the reasons why this dish is highly appreciated is the technique of blanching spinach before processing. Spinach is quickly dipped in boiling water and then immediately transferred to iced water to maintain its natural green color, limiting the condition of the vegetables becoming dark and reducing the pungent taste.
How to prepare to make rice green and seeds fluffy
To make spinach rice for 4 people, you need to prepare about 250 grams of fresh spinach, 2 cups of basmati rice, onions, ginger, garlic and spices such as dill seeds, cinnamon and cardamom.
Rice needs to be washed and soaked for about 20 minutes before cooking so that the rice grains expand evenly. Spinach after being washed is blanched in boiling water for about 2 minutes and then immediately soaked in iced water. Then, the vegetables are ground into a smooth mixture.
Next, sauté all kinds of spices with onions, ginger and garlic until fragrant. Gently stir rice with spices before adding water and cooking. When the rice is cooked and rested for about 5 minutes, mix the ground spinach into the rice to create a beautiful green color.
Culinary experts recommend not cooking spinach for too long because prolonged high temperatures will lose its natural green color and affect the flavor. You can add peas or paneer cheese to increase protein in the dish.
With a preparation and processing time of about 35 minutes, spinach rice is a simple and nutritious choice for dinner, and also helps increase the amount of green vegetables in the daily diet.
