Pudina (mint) rice

Notes: Use big pressure cooker for this recipe. Makes enough for 4-5 individual meals.

Ingredients

  1. Fresh mint (1 bunch)
  2. Basmati rice (2 cups flat)
  3. Fresh green chillis (1-2)
  4. 6-8 cloves grated garlic (can leave out if needed)
  5. Cashews or peanuts
  6. Carrots
  7. Peas
  8. (Optional) 1 small potato, diced.
  9. (Optional) Lime juice
  10. Garam masala (if you prefer, can add a small cinnamon stick, 2 cardamom pods, 4 cloves, 6-8 peppercorns, 1 bay leaf)

Steps

  1. Wash the rice and keep soaking aside in 3 cups of water.
  2. Grind mint leaves, chilli, and garlic together with some (1/2 tsp-ish) salt.
  3. Make standard phodni (mustard seeds, cumin seeds, dried red chilli, turmeric)
  4. Add peas and carrots and potato (if using). Sautee for a minute with some salt (1/2 tsp-ish).
  5. Add cashews or peanuts. Sautee for another minute (note that cashews burn easily so keep an eye on them!)
  6. Add the ground paste from Step 1. Sautee for 2-3 minutes (till there is no raw garlic smell).
  7. Add lemon juice
  8. Add soaked rice with all of the water. Stir thoroughly; taste water and add salt if needed (the water should be a little more salty than you want your food to be).
  9. Pressure cook for 1 whistle.
  10. Serve with yogurt and ghee.