Comfort foods come in all forms… and one of my favorites is this beet pulao. Those fried curry leaves transport me right back to my childhood with memories of my sister and I fighting over the fried leaves before my mom could even get the dish on the dining table!

What is pulao?

Pulao is a flavored rice dish that is usually eaten on its own or alongside a dhal or stew. In my community in Tamil Nadu, we eat pulao with an accompaniment of pickle or most often in my house with a cucumber pachadi or raita, which is essentially yogurt mixed with raw vegetables and flavored with some tempering spices.

At home, we usually eat Pulao on the weekends for lunch or for weeknight dinners if we want something healthy and quick and light. Especially if you’re making this in an instant pot, you won’t have to slave over a stove for this incredibly flavorful dish.