Mint Rice

Mint leaves are very well-known for its fragrance. It's sweet flavour and cooling nature perfectly pairs with all types of dishes. Of those, Mint rice is one of my favourites. I had plenty of mint leaves in my garden and whenever I cross the mint patch, I never forgot to pick a leaf and taste it. As a fresh start, I am sharing one of the very simple recipes made from fresh garden picked mint leaves.

Recipe:

• Prep time- 10 mins
• Cooking time- 20 mins
• Serves- 2
• Cuisine- Indian

Ingredients:

• Fresh mint leaves - 1 cup (packed tightly)
• Basmati rice or Raw rice - 1 cup
• Water - 2 cups
• Onion - 1 Medium size ( finely chopped)
• Ginger & Garlic paste - 1 tablespoon
• Green chillies - 2 or more according to the taste (Slit)
• Salt

Seasoning:

• Oil / Ghee
• Cloves - 2
• Cinnamon - 1 small size stick
• Cardamom - 1
• Bay leaves - 2

Method:

• Wash and soak the rice in normal water for 10 to 15 mins while you cook the rest. Blend the mint leaves in a blender adding little bit water into a coarse paste.
• In a hot pan pour some oil/ghee , add the seasoning ingredients in low flame. Then add green chillies, sliced onion and saute well.
• When the onions are sauted well, add ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell is gone. Also add enough salt during this time. Then add the mint paste and mix well till the oil/ ghee seperates out.
• Add 2 cups of water to this mixture and bring it to boil and add the soaked rice. Mix gently and cover the pan and lower the flame till the rice is done.
• Once the water is all evaporated, transfer the contents to a microwave safe bowl and microwave it uncovered for 3 mins. By doing this, rice would never stick and will stay with right moisture.

This rice will go well with onion raita ( finely chopped onion mixed in plain yogurt) and spicy chips. One of my easy recipes when you are in a hurry. It carries mild aroma for non masala lovers along with freshness of mint.

Hope you liked my first recipe and your feedback really mean a lot to me. Please share your thoughts while you enjoy my recipe.