Mint Rice also known as Pudina Rice is another great variant dish which can be prepared using rice. It is a delicious one-pot meal which has the flavours of mint leaves and is loaded with spices. The main ingredient of this easy recipe is mint leaves.
Mint rice is a healthy dish as it has mint leaves and vegetables in it. Mint leaves are considered a nice source of vitamins and minerals. It helps to maintain the immunity of a person and also keeps them safe from inflammation. This recipe is also vegan and gluten-free. It is considered a good lunch box or tiffin box recipe which tastes best when served with curd, curry or raita.
Here’s the recipe for Pudina Rice
Cooking time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
- 1 cup uncooked rice
- ½ cup pressed fresh mint leaves
- ¼ cup fresh or frozen pea
- 2 potatoes
- 1 onion
- 2 green chillies
- 2 tsp finely-chopped ginger
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp salt
- half lemon
- 1 tsp garam masala powder
For tempering:
- 4 tsp cooking oil
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 cloves
- 2 cinnamons
- 2 cardamoms
Method:
- Take potatoes and onions and wash them. Now peel them off and cut the potatoes to form big cubes.
- On the other hand, slice the onion. Once done, leave them aside.
- Next, put rice in a bowl and add enough water to rinse and soak the rice for approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
- Now, put the mint leaves, green chillies and ginger in a grinder.
- Squeeze half lemon over them and blend them to obtain a fine puree. If needed, add water for ease of grinding.
- Take a pressure cooker and put all the tempering ingredients in it. Heat them on a medium flame.
- Mix all the ingredients for a while and then add onion slices. Mix well till they become translucent.
- Next, add potato cubes, peas and turmeric powder to it.
- Saute until everything blends well. Now, pour the mint and spices purée into it.
- Keep stirring till the puree coats perfectly on all the veggies.
- Drain the water from the rice and put them in the sauteed veggies and mix them.
- Now, put 1.5 cups of water, garam masala powder and salt as per your taste and close the lid.
- Pressure cook for 3 whistles in medium flame and turn off the flame.
- Keep them for a while and then open the lid.
- Pudina rice can be served with raita, curry, papad, salad, and pickle.
Points to remember:
- Ensure to soak the rice as it helps to make fluffy and grain-separated pulao.
- Always try to green grind mint leaves with lemon in a mixer as it helps to retain the green colour which gives a beautiful colour to the dish.
- You can always add other veggies like carrot, tomato, cauliflower and beans as per your taste to the dish.
- Use all the ingredients in the appropriate amount to get the desired colour and flavours of the dish.