Mint Rice ( Pudina Pulao )

Mint Rice is a very aromatic and flavourful rice dish.
Mint has a very good action over the digestive system.
Here is the recipe of mint pulao which is very easy to make and I call it one-dish meal. You really don't need any currys or dals to go with it. It can be eaten by itself or at the most a raita or plain yogurt.

Ingredients:

• Pudina Leaves - 1 1/2 cups
• Cilantro - 1/2 cup
• Green Chillies - 2
• Grated Coconut - 2 tbsp
• Rice - 2 cups
• Onions - 1 medium
• Oil - 1 tbsp
• Ginger - 1 inch
• Garlic -2 cloves
• Cumin Seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Cloves - 3-4
• Cinnamon - 1 inch
• Star Anise - 1
• Bay leaf - 1
• Salt -to taste
• Water - 4 cups

Directions:

• Grind Pudina, cilantro, grated coconut, green chillies, ginger, garlic into a fine paste and keep aside.
• Wash and soak rice for 15 minutes.
• In a deep pot, heat oil, saute cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, bay leaf for a minute.
• Add finely chopped onions and saute till brownish.
• Add the ground pudina paste and saute for another 4-5 minutes.
• Add rice, saute for a minute then add water , salt and cook covered on medium till the rice is done.
• If you are cooking in the rice cooker, soak 2 cups of rice in 4 cups of water in the cooker. Add this sauted masala to the rice. Give it a good stir and cook till done.
• Serve with Plain yogurt or any raita.