Pudina rice or mint rice is a rice recipe shared here along with a video and is made using mint leaves and mint is commonly called 'pudina'. The rice is mixed in a pudina masala and is one of the common recipes made for lunch box special recipes or kids recipes.
There are many more quick veg rice recipes on the blog such as veg pulao, tomato bath etc...
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About the recipe
Here, the south Indian style of pudina rice is made in a very simple way without using too many ingredients and it turned out delicious.
To make this pudina rice I have used mint leaves as the main ingredient and made a pudina paste using garlic and green chillies.
I have added this pudina paste into the rice and I have used cumin seeds and sliced onions to give an aromatic tempering.
I have shared a video to make this quick lunch box mint rice recipe which is one of the best and quick lunch box ideas to pack for kids lunch.
If we are in a hurry then, it hardly takes a couple of minutes to make this recipe and is a better option to carry home made quick rice recipes than eating outside food.
To make pudina rice, I have made use of cooked basmati rice here, but its an optional and it can be made using ordinary rice too and it comes out well with normal rice too.
Benefits of mint
- Mint has got several benefits for human body and is widely used as an ingredient for proper digestion.
- Mint is often used for good oral hygiene and prevents from bad odors in mouth. Mint is also used to make various recipes.
- Pudina is very commonly used in making heavy and rich recipes like pulao or biryani as adding them in such recipes ads taste to the dish and also improves digestion.
- It is used in many cold drink recipes or mock tails usually in summers as this keeps the body cool and works wonders to a human tummy.
Pudina can be used to make many other varieties of recipes like pudina chutney which I have already shared on my blog and have also shared some more south indian chutneys .
Other recipes that can be made are pudina pulao, pudina paratha, pudina chicken etc... which I would like to update in my future recipes.
Pudina can't be eaten plain but if added to some curries or drinks, it really gives a great flavor to the drinks and curries.
During summers pudina leaves are widely used as it acts as a great coolant in summer drinks.
Ingredients
- To make the mint paste I have used fresh mint leaves, garlic cloves, green chilies and a pinch of salt. The flavor of chilies can be altered according to the spicy flavors preferred.
- In the second stage tempering is given by heating up the oil, adding cumin seeds, dried chilies, onions and then adding pudina paste and cooking the masala.
- In the last step, the gravy is mixed with hot cooked rice and cooked for a minute.
- It makes up an instant rice recipe which is perfect for lunch box special recipes.
- This recipe can be served with plain yogurt or raita.
- It can be served with potato fry as a side dish which makes a good accompaniment and is also a quick veg recipe to make for lunch.
Variations to the recipe:
Here, I am using only pudina to make the paste but the paste can be slightly modified by adding a tablespoon of freshly chopped coriander leaves to the mentioned recipe of pudina paste.
A mixture of both fresh herbs gives a real good taste to the special instant rice.
Step by step procedure
To cook basmati rice:
Method 1: In a cooking vessel, add 1 cup washed basmati rice, add 2 cups water, salt to taste, cook the rice until it is completely done and place aside for later use.
Method 2: If the rice should turn out long, grainy and not soggy then boil some water by adding salt according to the taste and then add soaked rice after the water boils.
The rice boils well in boiling water and once the grains are 95% cooked, strain the basmati rice immediately. This method gives long grainy rice which can be directly used to make the flavored rice.
Method 3: Rice can be cooked in rice cooker .
Note: This recipe can be made with ordinary rice and also turns out good with left over rice as well.
To make pudina paste:
- In a blending jar, add a bunch of fresh mint leaves, green chillies chopped.
- add garlic cloves, salt to taste.
- Blend all these ingredients into a fine paste and rest it aside for later use. Add a little water to make a smooth paste.
Making of pudina rice:
- Take a pan or a wok, into it add oil and heat it.
- Add cumin seeds, let it pop up.
- Add dried red chillies and saute for few seconds on low flame.
- Add sliced onions into it.
- cook them until they turn slight golden in color.
- Add the pudina paste into it, add salt if required.
- mix and cook on low flame until oil leaves the sides.
- Add the cooked basmati rice into the pudina gravy.
- Mix the rice and the masala.
- Cook the pudina rice for 2-3 minutes on low flame.
- Pudina rice or mint rice is ready to be served.
- Serve ith with any chutney or pickle.
Video
Recipe
pudina rice recipe, mint rice
Ingredients
For cooking rice:
- 1 cup basmati rice washed well under running water
- 2 cups water
- salt to taste
To make pudina paste:
- 1 bunch of pudina leaves/mint leaves
- 3 green chillies chopped
- 5 garlic cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt/as per taste
To make pudina rice:
- 2 tablespoon oil
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds/jeera
- 2 dried red chillies
- 1 medium size onion finely sliced
- blended pudina paste
- ¼ teaspoon salt if required
- 1 cup cooked basmati rice
Instructions
To cook basmati rice:
- In a cooking vessel, add 1 cup washed basmati rice, add 2 cups water, salt to taste, cook the rice until it is completely done and place aside for later use.
To make pudina paste:
- In a blending jar, add fresh mint leaves, green chillies chopped, garlic cloves, salt to taste.
- Blend all these ingredients into a fine paste.
Making of pudina rice:
- Take a pan or a wok, into it add oil and heat it.
- Add cumin seeds, let it pop up.
- Add dried red chillies and saute for few seconds on low flame.
- Add sliced onions, cook them until they turn slight golden in color.
- Add the pudina paste into it, add salt if required, mix and cook on low flame until oil leaves the sides.
- Add the cooked basmati rice into the pudina gravy and mix everything well.
- Cook the pudina rice for 2-3 minutes on low flame.
- Pudina rice or mint rice is ready to be served.
- Serve ith with any chutney or pickle.
Notes
- It can also be made with left over rice.
- Use normal rice or ordinary rice if basmati rice is not available.
- Do not use any tomatoes and just keep it as simple as mentioned in the recipe to get the perfect pudina rice flavors.
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