Instant Pot Masale Bhaat

Name: Instant Pot Masale Bhaat
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1½ cup White Rice; ½ medium Potato ((peeled and diced)); 3-4 florets Cauliflower; ¼ cup Peas; ½ medium Carrot ((peeled and diced)); ½ cup Eggplant ((diced)); ½ cup Onion ((sliced thin)); ¾ cup Tomato ((diced)); 1 inch Ginger ((grated)); 2 cloves Garlic ((peeled and minced)); 4-5 Curry Leaves; 1 Green Chili; ¼ tsp Mustard Seeds; ⅛ tsp Asafetida; ½ tsp Turmeric Powder; 1½ tbsp Goda masala; 1½ tsp Salt; 1½ tbsp Oil; 2¼ cups Water; 2-3 stalks Cilantro; 2-3 tbsp Coconut ((shredded))

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An easy one pot meal using rice, vegetables and a special spice blend called Goda masala; this recipe for Masale Bhaat comes together perfectly.

Use the Instant Pot to make it in one pot under 30 minutes and serve with some yogurt on the side.

A violet plate with masale bhaat and a bowl filled with yogurt placed next to it.

One pot meals are such great saviors on busy days. May it be weeknight meals or weekend lunch, these recipes are always handy. From this one pot Vegetable Chowmein and Tortellini Pasta recipe to this Pineapple Quinoa and Miso Ramen Soup; we love them all!

Rice is an ingredient that fits so many requirements. It is easy to make, can be made using one pot and can be served in so many different ways.

From pulao or biryani to simple recipes like lemon rice or fried rice all have the same core ingredient but taste so varied. Moreover, rice is easy to make in the instant pot, pressure cooker or even a pan.

Masale Bhaat is one such recipe. It is a pulao or a mixed vegetable and rice preparation that is made with a special blend of spices. It comes together wonderfully in the instant pot and is totally customizable.

Jump to:

What is Masale Bhaat
What is Goda Masala
Why this recipe works
Ingredients and Substitutions
How to make this recipe
Expert Tips and Notes
Making this without an Instant Pot
Recipe FAQs
Serving and Storing
Pairings
More Instant Pot Recipes
Instant Pot Masale Bhaat

What is Masale Bhaat

A popular Maharashtrian dish made using rice, Masale Bhaat is often served at weddings and other religious gatherings. It is also a recipe that is popular for Ganesh Chaturthi.

It is almost like a pulao made using rice, vegetables like eggplant, peas, potatoes and carrots. Plus we also add a special spice blend goda masala. This spice mix adds a lot of taste and flavor to the rice.

For a meal, this rice is perfect with yogurt, raita or even kadhi. Add in some papadam and pickle and you have a complete meal!

While this recipe is popular at weddings; it is also a great tiffin meal or lunch box option. Super flavorful by itself, it does not need a lot of sides making it easy to carry in a box.

What is Goda Masala

There are so many spice blends from India that are regional. Goda Masala is one such regional mix from the state of Maharashtra.

It is used in many Maharashtrian recipes including Misal, Aamti, Usal and Masale Bhaat. It is a mix of popular whole spices and some added ingredients. And it is easily available in most Indian stores and online.

To make this at home we need coriander seeds, cloves, cinnamon, black pepper, sesame, dried coconut, cumin seeds, cardamom and poppy seeds.

These ingredients are dry roasted till aromatic. Then we let them cool down completely and blend them to a powder. It does not necessarily have to be super fine. Pop into an airtight container and use as needed.

Why this recipe works

This recipe is naturally Vegan.
We can put this together in 30 minutes.
It is easy to customize the vegetables added in the rice.
The recipe is versatile to work with different kinds of grains as well.
This flavorful recipe pairs wonderfully with yogurt or raita.
It is also great by itself.
We can easily adjust the spice level by changing the amount of goda masala and spices used.
It is great as a breakfast, lunch or even a tiffin meal.
The recipe is easy to scale up or down.
The recipe is also naturally gluten-free.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Rice: This recipe for Masale Bhaat is perfect using either long basmati rice or short grain rice like ambe mor or kali jeera. While any kind of white rice works for the recipe, pick a variety that will not become very dry on cooking. Plus, the water in this recipe is slightly more than a biryani recipe. This is because the grains need not be totally separate in this one.
Vegetables: A mix of vegetables is generally great in the recipe. The most popular vegetables are eggplant, carrots, ivy gourd(tendli), peas, cauliflower and potatoes. Use a mix of all of these or pick your favorites. However, try not to skip the eggplants in this recipe. They give a lot of taste to the recipe. If you make the same recipe with just eggplants, it will become the popular Vangi Bhaat recipe. And adding just ivy gourd you can make Tendli Masale Bhaat.
Goda masala: A special spice blend called Goda Masala is used in this Masale Bhaat recipe. This can be bought from the Indian store or on Amazon. Plus it is easy to make at home. I have used the store bought masala in this recipe.
Oil: Any neutral oil will work for this recipe. Making it in ghee is an option too. However, it does not remain Vegan that way.
Spices and seasonings: The recipe for Masale Bhaat uses garlic, ginger, green chili and curry leaves for flavor. The seasonings include salt and turmeric powder. Most of the flavor is in the goda masala and so we do not add too many spices.
The rice is perfect to top with shredded coconut and cilantro. It tastes best with these. Try not to skip the coconut.

See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.

How to make this recipe

1- Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode and heat oil in it.

2- Once hot, add mustard seeds and asafetida. Wait for the mustard seeds to pop.

Collage steps to make Instant Pot Masale Bhaat; heating oil and adding tempering to the instant pot.

3- Add ginger and garlic and sauté till the raw flavor vanishes.

4- Add slit green chili and curry leaves. Sauté for a couple of seconds.

Collage steps to make Instant Pot Masale Bhaat; adding aromatics and sauté till flavorful.

5- Add sliced onions and cook them for 5-6 minutes, till soft.

6- Then add in the Goda Masala and turmeric powder. Season with salt and sauté the masalas for a minute.

Collage steps to make Instant Pot Masale Bhaat; adding onions and spices to the instant pot.

7- Now add the tomatoes and cook them for a few minutes till soft.

8- Tip in the mixed vegetables.

Collage steps to make Instant Pot Masale Bhaat; adding tomatoes and vegetables in the instant pot.

9- The eggplants go in next.

10- Add the rice and mix well.

Collage steps to make Instant Pot Masale Bhaat; adding eggplants and rice to the instant pot.

11- Now add the water and mix.

12- Close the lid of the Instant Pot and pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. Let the pressure release for 5 minutes after and open the Instant Pot.

Collage steps to make Instant Pot Masale Bhaat; adding water and mixing well.

13- Fluff the rice gently using a fork.

14- Serve hot topped with chopped cilantro and shredded coconut.

Collage steps to make Instant Pot Masale Bhaat; fluffing the rice and serving with cilantro and coconut.

Expert Tips and Notes

Use any long grain or short grain white rice for this Masale Bhaat recipe. Basmati, Ambe Mor or Kali Jeera works well.
We can also use brown rice for the recipe. Simply adjust the cooking time to 22 minutes on the Instant Pot to ensure they cook well.
To make this recipe in a jiffy, use any frozen vegetable mix you have at hand. Add some eggplants if you can. Just pick a mix that is made with Indian vegetables.
The Masale Bhaat is Vegan if made with oil. It can also be made with ghee but does not remain Vegan.
The potatoes can be peeled or used as is. If using with peel, ensure they are scrubbed well and used.
To make a Jain friendly version, skip the potatoes, onion, garlic and ginger. Moreover, ensure that the goda masala is free from garlic as well. Adding some chopped cabbage or even some corn and beans works well.
Sauté all the spices in oil before adding any water to the instant pot. This ensures the spices become flavorful and result in a flavorful recipe.
We can easily double or triple the recipe. To do so, simply scale the ingredients. Leave the time unchanged; the instant pot adjusts it based in the amount of ingredients in it.

A bowl of instant pot masale bhaat with an instant pot right behind it and yogurt served by the side.

Making this without an Instant Pot

The same recipe is easy to make in the pressure cooker. Simply sauté all the spices and vegetables in oil in the pressure cooker and then add soaked rice and spices. Mix everything well and add 1¼ cup water for every cup of rice. Pressure cook for 3 whistles, let the pressure settle down and open the lid. Serve topped with cilantro and coconut.
Moreover, we can make this in a dutch oven or heavy bottom pan too. To make this, heat oil in the pan and add the tempering ingredients. Then add the vegetables, spices and soaked rice. Cook covered with 1¼ cup water for every cup of rice for 20-30 minutes till everything is cooked. Add more water if you like it mushy.

Recipe FAQs

How can we make Masale Bhaat without onion and garlic?

The recipe is easy to make without onion and garlic. Simply leave these out and ensure the Goda masala does not have garlic too. This is often made for religious events and weddings.

What can I replace Goda Masala in the recipe with?

While garam masala and goda masala both have very different flavor profiles, we can somehow make do with a dash of garam masala along with quite a lot of kanda lasan masala. The flavors will not be identical, but still pretty great.

What all vegetables work best in Masale Bhaat?

While we can use any mix of vegetables; eggplant and potatoes do make the recipe great. Along with that we add ivy gourd, onions, tomatoes, peas, cauliflower and carrots. That being said, use any vegetable mix you like.

Is Masale Bhaat Vegan and Gluten-free?

Yes the recipe for Masale Bhaat is Vegan and Gluten-free. However, if we add some ghee on top, it does not remain Vegan.

Can I make Masale Bhaat with anything other than white rice?

Yes certainly. Brown rice, quinoa, millets or even oats work in the recipe. However, adjust the cooking time based on the grain or seed used. We do not want them all mushed up or uncooked.

Serving and Storing

The prepared masale bhaat is great to enjoy straight from the instant pot. Enjoy it with some ghee on top. And serve it with some yogurt, raita or buttermilk.

Moreover, we can make this ahead of time as well. Wait for the rice to cool down to room temperature and transfer to a lidded box. Pop into the refrigerator and enjoy within 2-3 days. Ensure to heat through before serving.

A bowl with masale bhaat topped with coconut and cilantro; served with yogurt on the side.

Pairings

This rice pairs beautifully with so many recipes. Raita, pickled vegetables and curries are best with Masale Bhaat.

More Instant Pot Recipes

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