Cabbage Rice Recipe Instant Pot Indian Cabbage Pulao

Cabbage is one of my favorite vegetables and a staple in my refrigerator. This cabbage pulao recipe, which I learnt from my mother, is a family favorite along with Karnataka Style vegetable pulao and methi pulao. It’s incredibly easy to prepare which gets ready in less than 30 minutes, making it a go-to dish for busy days. It is a great lunchbox recipe for both kids and adults. For more delicious Indian cabbage recipes from my blog, check out cabbage peas stir fry, cabbage potato peas curry, cabbage pakoda, and veg mayonnaise sandwich.

Ingredients

Rice: I have used long-grain basmati rice; you can also use sona masoori rice. Cabbage: Wash and finely chop the green cabbage. Green Peas: use fresh or frozen. Onion: I have used thinly sliced onions. Spices: For whole spices, I have used cumin seeds. For dry spices, I have used turmeric, garam masala powder. Herbs: Used fresh-cut coriander leaves. Lime Juice: use freshly squeezed lime juice. Grinding Ingredients: Used freshly grated coconut (optional), ginger, garlic, green chilies, cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves.

How to Make Cabbage Rice Recipe in Instant Pot

Grind/Blend green chilies, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom together to a coarse paste. Keep aside. You can also add two tablespoons of fresh coconut while grinding tastes excellent. Press SAUTE mode on the Instant Pot. Add oil to the pot. Once the pot is hot, add the cumin/jeera. Then add the blended mixture and saute for 15 seconds. **Note: the mixture can stick or burn to the bottom, stirring continuously. Then add in the onions and saute until the onions turn light brown. You can also add chopped tomatoes to this recipe, but I haven’t added them to this. Now add in the chopped cabbage, green peas, turmeric powder, mix well and saute for 30 seconds. Add rice, garam masala, salt, water, and give a quick stir. Close the lid on the pot. Set the pot to MANUAL/PRESSURE COOK (High Pressure) and set the timer to 6 minutes. Do a QUICK RELEASE (QR), OR if you have time, wait for NATURAL PRESSURE RELEASE (NPR). Once the pressure has released, open the lid. Add the juice of a half lemon and garnish with cilantro/coriander leaves and mix well. The instant pot cabbage pulao/rice is ready, serve with yogurt and raita.

Stovetop Pressure Cooker Method

To make Cabbage Pulao in a traditional pressure cooker, follow the same steps as you would for the Instant Pot version. Once everything is added, close the lid, place the whistle on the pressure cooker, and cook on medium flame for 2 whistles. Let the pressure release naturally.

Variations

Adding 2 tablespoons of shredded coconut (fresh or frozen) while grinding can enhance the flavor. However, this is optional and can be skipped if you don’t have coconut on hand. You can add other vegetables like carrots, beans, potatoes, and bell peppers to this. For added protein, you can also include cubes of paneer or edamame beans.