Mint Rice/Pudina Rice/Green Pulao is a fragrant, spicy and tasty rice which is made of mint leaves, cilantro, green chillies, fresh coconut, garlic and ginger garlic paste. Even though it is called mint rice, I use more of cilantro also for the great flavor. This is a simple yet crowd pleasing rice recipe which is an excellent choice for your parties and get togethers.

This 30 minute meal is easy to cook and you can also make the mint paste ahead of time and use it when you need to cut down your cooking time. We can make rice fresh for this recipe or we can use leftover rice. Mint paste can also be frozen and just thaw it, use it when needed. I am adding onions, peas and potato also for this recipe. This goes well with papad and onion raita.

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How to make Mint Rice

PREP TIME: 10 MINS COOK TIME: 20 MINS TOTAL TIME: 30 MINS COURSE: MAIN COURSE CUISINE: INDIAN SERVINGS : 4

Ingredients

For the mint paste:
- cilantro – 1/2 bunch
- mint leaves – 1.5 cups/1.5 fistfuls
- coconut – 1.5 tbsp
- garlic – 3 pods
- ginger – 1″ pc
- green chilies – 4
- lemon juice – 1 tsp
For making rice:
- basmati rice – 2 cups
- water – 3 cups for rice
- oil – 3 tbsp
- garam masala – 2/3 tsp
- salt
- onion, chopped – 1
- peas – 1/4 cup
- potato – 1 sm
- cardamom – 2
- cloves – 2
- cinnamon stick – 1
- cumin seeds – 1 tsp

Instructions

Rinse and cook rice first. (we can use leftover rice too). We need to use cooked rice for this. Spread the rice on a plate.
Grind coconut, garlic, ginger, green chillies, pinch of salt, cilantro, mint and lemon juice into a paste with some water. Keep it aside.
Chop potato and onions into small pieces. Take peas and garam masala ready.
Take a small pan with 2 tsp oil, fry potato till soft.
Take a medium pan, pour 3 tbsp oil, add cumin seeds, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. Saute them, then add onions. Saute onions for 5 mins or until onions are translucent.
Add peas and garam masala, saute for 2 more mins.
Add ground cilantro and mint paste along with 1/4 cup of water. Saute everything until you smell nice aroma around the place. You see the oil floats on top.
Add fried potato pieces, Mix well. Turn the stove off.
Add this mint paste to rice, add salt (around 1.5 tsp) and mix well until the rice and paste combined nicely. Check the taste and adjust salt if needed.
Serve with papad and onion cucumber raita.

Raita: Take 2 cups of yogurt in a bowl. Add finely chopped onions and cucumber pieces, salt, chas powder or jeera (cumin) powder, cilantro. Mix well to make raita.

Mint Rice – Step by step photo instructions

Rinse 2 cups of rice and cook first. (we can use leftover rice too). We need to use cooked rice for this. Spread the rice on a plate.

2. Grind 1.5 tbsp coconut, 3 garlic, 1″ ginger, 4 green chillies, pinch of salt, 1/2 bunch cilantro, 1.5 cups mint leaves and 1 tsp lemon juice into a paste with some water. Keep it aside.

3. Chop 1 sm potato and 1 onion into small pieces. Keep 1/4 cup peas and garam masala ready. Take a small pan with 2 tsp oil, fry potato till soft.

4. Take a medium pan, pour 3 tbsp oil, add cumin seeds, 1 cinnamon, 2 cardamoms and 2 cloves. Saute them, then add onions. Saute onions for 5 mins or until onions are translucent.

5. Add peas and 2/3 tsp garam masala, saute for 2 more mins.

6. Add ground cilantro and mint paste along with 1/4 cup of water and turmeric. Saute everything until you smell nice aroma around the place. You see the oil floats on top. Turn the stove off.

7. Add fried potato pieces, Mix well.

8. Add this mint paste to rice, add salt (around 1.5 tsp) and mix well until the rice and paste combined nicely. Check the taste and adjust salt if needed.

9. Raita: Take 2 cups of yogurt in a bowl. Add finely chopped onions and cucumber pieces, salt, chas powder or chat masala or jeera (cumin) powder, cilantro. Mix well to make raita.