Mint Pulao / Pudina Rice

How do you finish off a hugeee bunch of Pudina after you have made chutneys, Biryanis? Welll with the cold weather here, it tried my hand at Pudina Rice/ Mint Pulao. love the fresh mint(y) aroma whenever I buy a bunch of Pudina leaves. After you careful pluck every leaf from its stem your hand have turned balckish green but they smell strongly of Pudina. Well I dont like that inda smeel but a subtle yet refreshing aroma in the house is what I prefer.

I wanted to make something warm & easy to make. Mint Pulao was the perfect hoice since i had all the kitchen staples on hand along with a bunch of Mint. I generally make Pudina Rice with whole spices for that wonderful aroma which is woven along with Pudina for a full of Spice Rice. Thsi time however I tried my hand at a simpler version. This takes 30 mins start to finish ( excluding the time to pluck mint leaves from the stems).

I will post the other variation soon since i still have a few more mint leaves at home.

Heres the recipe...

Ingredients

1 Cup Basmati rice
2 Tbl spoon Ghee/ clarified butter
1 finaly chopped onion
2 chillies
2 fistful Pudina/Mint Leaves
1 tbl spn corinader POwder
1 t spn jeera/Cumin powder
1/4 cup peas
1/4 cup soaked chanadal( I used this since i had on hand)
any vegetables ( optional)
2 garlic cloves ( paste)
1/2 t spn ginger finely grated
1/2 t spn Jeera seeds
a pich of asafoedita
2 cups hot water


Methd:
Grind the Mint leaves & chillies togather. Keep aside. Heat the ghee, add cumin seeds. When they splutter add hing & immediatly add onions. fry till are golder brown. Add ginger, garlic. fry for about a minute. Add the washed rice. Fry till its aromatic. add the Mint paste, peas, chana dal, Vegetables. Add the jeera powder, corinader powder. Fry for 2 minutes. Add the water, salt as per taste.
Keep the pot on high blame till you can see tiny water bubbles. now simmer & cook covered for 20 minutes. Serving with pipping hot Kadhi or chilled raita & papad at the side.


Verdict: Easy to cook & Yummy !! Chana dal added the extra crunch which i really loved. I will try this variation to other Pulaos now on. I hope you have liked this recipe.

See you soon.