pudina rice

Pudina Rice | Mint Rice

By Swasthi on February 25, 2022, Comments, Jump to Recipe

Pudina rice is a one pot delicious, healthy and fragrant Indian dish made with rice, mint leaves and spices. ‘Pudina’ is a Hindi word for ‘mint leaves’, which is a fragrant herb widely used in Indian cuisine to make chutney, curry, biryani, pulao & a lot of rice dishes. Make super aromatic and healthy pudina rice in 2 ways following my easy recipes in this post.

pudina rice in a serving plate

About Mint Rice

This South Indian style mint rice is always a winner for its simplicity, taste and refreshing aroma. Both these recipes are a great way to use up any fresh mint leaves left behind in your refrigerator.

Since mint leaves are the star in this pudina rice recipe, I have not used any other veggies. But if you prefer, you can add some mixed vegetables like potatoes, peas, carrots and beans. Do note the flavour changes with the addition of veggies.

You can serve this with any curry, plain yogurt, raita or a simple curry. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian curries go well. Pudina rice can also be taken to school or work. Some vegetable salad or kachumber goes well too.

Here are some delicious dishes that go well with this mint rice.
Bagara baingan
Mixed vegetable kurma
South Indian chicken kurma
Chicken curry

Pudina rice can be made in 2 ways. The first method is a one pot recipe where ground mint leaves, coriander leaves, green chilies and onions are sautéed and then the rice is cooked with it.

pudina rice recipe, mint rice

The second method is similar to the South Indian lemon rice and we call this as lemon pudina rice. I can’t tell you how delicious, unique & amazing this tastes! With this method you basically cook the plain rice and then temper it similar to the lemon rice but you have the mint leaves added to the tadka.

Pudina Rice made in South Indian Style

Variations you can make

These variations are for the first recipe (one pot)

  1. I have used coconut, you can replace it with onions too. Both yield good pudina rice, with different flavors.
  2. You can even add vegetables like potato, peas, mushroom or baby corn too while frying the paste to perk up the nutrition.
  3. You can add a handful of cashew nuts to the pot while frying the spices.

More Rice recipes
Pulao recipe
Veg biryani
Green peas pulao
Tawa pulao
Potato pulao

Recipe 1 – One pot Method

How to Make Pudina Rice (Stepwise photos)

Preparation

1. Add ginger garlic, pudina, green chilies, coriander leaves, onions or coconut to a blender jar and make a fine paste, as fine as possible.

coconut mint ginger garlic paste for making pudina rice recipe
blended coconut mint paste

2. Pour oil to a pressure pan or cooker and heat it. Saute the dry spices till they begin to sizzle. you can even add nuts at this stage or fry and keep them aside for garnishing.

fry spices in oil

3. Add the paste and fry for 2 to 4 minutes, depending on the kind of your utensil. This is done to bring out the flavor of the mixture. Do not burn, stir well, it sticks too quickly. If using mix veggies, you can add them now and saute for 2 mins.

tempering spices cumin cloves

Make Mint Rice

4. Pour water and stir in the salt. bring it to a boil.

addition of mint coconut paste for pudina rice

5. Add washed and soaked rice. Stir and cook until the water almost evaporates.

addition of rice for pudina rice

6. Close the lid when there is very little water left. Put on the flame to low.Cook for just 5 minutes and switch off. do not let the cooker whistle if using basmathi rice. if using regular rice, allow it to whistle once.

pressure cooking

7. Lastly open the lid when the pressure goes down. A layer of mint and coconut is visible on top, you can sprinkle lemon juice and fluff up the rice gently.

south indian style mint rice or pudina rice ready

Serve with onion raita or potato kurma or egg masala curry.

pudina rice

Pro tips

  • Salt & vinegar can be sprinkled over the mint leaves and set aside for 10 minutes before cleaning. This helps to get rid of the pesticide residue on the leaves.
  • To skip blending the leaves in a blender, try to mince them as finely as possible.

Lemon Mint Rice – Recipe 2

Lemon pudina rice recipe – one of the most easiest and flavorful rice that can be made for lunch box or for a quick meal. This is one of our favorites and preferred over the regular lemon rice. It can be served without any side. But to add little more nutrition to the meal, we accompany it with raita Raita or a quick mixed vegetable salad. Here are the ingredients to make

pudina rice

Ingredients

  • 1 cup rice uncooked
  • oil as needed
  • 1 cup pudina leaves or mint leaves (tightly packed)
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
  • ½ tsp mustard
  • ¾ tbsp chana dal (optional)
  • ½ to ¾ tbsp urad dal (optional)
  • 2 tbsp peanuts or cashews
  • turmeric powder little
  • lemon juice as needed(as much as we use for lemon rice)
  • 1 broken red chili
  • 2 green chilies (skip for kids or deseed use 1)
  • olive oil (optional)
  • ½ to ¾ tsp grated ginger (optional)

Instructions

  1. Firstly pluck mint leaves, add them to a large pot filled with water. Rinse them well in more water. Drain them in a colander.
  2. Soak rice for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
  3. Cook it and set aside to cool completely. You can cook rice in electric cooker, pressure cooker or pot. The rice must be grainy and not mushy.
  4. While the rice cooks, add the mint leaves to a small blender jar. Blend it little coarsely without adding water. Set this aside.
  5. To make pudina rice, heat oil in a pan. Next add peanuts, chana dal and urad dal when they are lightly golden, add mustard and red chili. Lower the heat. When mustard splutters, add curry leaves, ginger, green chilies.
  6. Ginger may get burnt, be quick. Add the pudina. Saute for 1 minute. Switch off the stove.
  7. Add turmeric to the pan and add this to the cooled rice. Lastly sprinkle salt and squeeze off lemon all over the rice. Mix well. I also like to add some extra virgin olive oil before the rice is mixed.
  8. lemon mint rice is ready.

Related Recipes

Recipe Card

pudina rice

Pudina Rice | Mint Rice Pulao

Pudina rice is a one pot rice dish made with spices, mint & rice. This mint rice turns out very flavorful, delicious & can be eaten with some yogurt or raita. This recipe post shares 2 methods to make.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings3
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )

  • cups rice uncooked
  • 1 cup mint or pudina (loosely measured)
  • ¼ cup coriander leaves (optional)
  • 2 green chilies
  • 1 inch ginger or paste
  • 3 small pods garlic or 1 to 2 large pods
  • ¼ cup chopped coconut or 1 medium onion cubed
  • Salt as needed
  • 2 tablespoon Oil or ghee as needed
  • cups water (adjust to suit your rice variety, 3 cups for pot)
  • 1 to 2 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
  • cups mix veggies (optional) carrots, peas, potatoes, beans

Whole spices

  • 1 bay leaf / tej patta
  • 1 star anise /chakri phool
  • 1 small strand mace /javitri (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon cumin or shahi jeera
  • 6 cloves /laung
  • 2 inch cinnamon /dalchini
  • 4 green cardamoms /elaichi


Instructions

Preparation

  • Wash 1½ cups rice and soak it for about 15 minutes. 
  • Pluck and wash 1 cup mint and handful of coriander leaves. Drain them completely. 
  • Grind mint, coriander, 1 to 2 green chilies, 1 inch piece of ginger, 3 small pods of garlic, ¼ cup chopped coconut or 1 large cubed to as smooth as possible without adding water.

How to Make Pudina Rice

  • Heat a pan with 2 tablespoons oil or ghee. 
  • Add 1 bay leaf, 1 star anise, 1 strand mace, half teaspoon cumin, 6 cloves, 2 inch cinnamon and 4 green cardamoms. 
  • Saute till they begin to sizzle.
  • Add the ground paste and fry on a medium to low flame for about 2 to 3 minutes. 
  • Optional – If using mix veggies you can add 1½ cups of mixed vegetables now & then saute for another 2 mins.
  • Pour water and add salt. Mix and check the salt. Bring it to a boil.
  • Add washed and drained rice. Cook until done in your preferred way.

Pressure cooker method

  • Cook the rice till the water almost evaporates. 
  • When there is very little water left in the cooker, close the lid. 
  • Cook it for about 5 minutes on a low flame and switch off. 
  • Do not allow to whistle. If making with normal rice, let it whistle once.
  • When the pressure releases, open the lid and mix gently.
  • You will see a layer of the mint mixture on top, pour lemon juice all over and mix it gently .
  • Serve pudina rice with a simple onion raita or a potato kurma.

Open pan or pot method

  • Cook covered on a low heat until rice is fully cooked. Serve with raita or plain yogurt.


Notes

If you don’t have a grinder, finely chop onions, pudina, green chilies, coriander leaves, ginger garlic. Finely mince everything well on the chopping board. Crush or mash until smooth. Make sure the mixture is roasted for a while before you add water, the raw smell should disappear.

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Pudina Rice | Mint Rice Pulao
Amount Per Serving (1.25 g)
Calories 482 Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 524mg23%
Potassium 294mg8%
Carbohydrates 87g29%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 8g16%
Vitamin A 635IU13%
Vitamin C 16.8mg20%
Calcium 90mg9%
Iron 2.3mg13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

© Swasthi’s Recipes

Pudina Rice | Mint Rice

About Swasthi

I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me

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5 stars
Excellent recipe. My family loved it. Should try the Pudina lemon recipe too. Thank you.

5 stars
Hii Swasthi
I’ve been making your mint rice since years but never complimented you earlier. Sorry for that. But your mint rice always taste so good, each time better than the earlier. Thank you dear.

Sorry, how many portions does this recipe make?

5 stars
Hello Swasthi,
I’ve tried out a number of your recipes and loved them all. Can I substitute ginger and garlic with stor bought paste? If I can, could you specify the measurement. Thanks and best wishes.

5 stars
This was so delicious and utterly satisfying. I made it to accompany spicy grilled chicken thighs and a green salad with radishes, and the rice was the star of the plate. Thank you!

5 stars
I love the second recipe. Delicious and easy too. My husband loves this lemon pudina rice. Thank you

Thanks for sharing the recipe. I am amazed the work you are doing on explaining each step with different variations along with pictures. I know it’s not an easy task.

I appreciate your hard work and dedication.

Cheers
Vennela

5 stars
Thank you

Wonderful recipes. I made the lemon mint rice. Turned out fantastic. Also made your chicken curry to go with it. Absolutely delicious combo

5 stars
Great recipe. Family loved it.

5 stars
I admire your style of writing and yes I have learnt a lot from your recipes and keep trying them.
Congratulations and thank you.

5 stars
Awesome ? ur presentation nd the way u explained ?

5 stars
Hi Swasthi,

Tried the Pudina rice today and for a beginner, came out very well.. everyone at home liked it.. simple steps, with pics helped with the right outcome?..Thank you soo much!!

Dear Swathi,,,,
i have become your fan…which ever receipe i followed in this blog came out really well….my kids like the red tomato sauce pasta with red bell pepper a lot…….byeeee….

5 stars
I tried this recipe. It came out very well.

Thanks

5 stars
This mint rice was yum ?. After making your andhra chicken curry I was left with lots of mint. I made this recipe and my family loved it with your garlic eggs. Good work!

5 stars
It’s too good.Thanks for posting this recipe.

5 stars
Today I tried first time, it came out well. I enjoyed a lot. Thank you so much. It went well with raita.

I am a big fan of yours.?

I love to cook and except who eat my food also enjoy it. My wish or dream comes true always because of you.

Next to my mother and mother in law recipes, I follow yours. Thanks again.

5 stars
I am learning how to cook South Indian dishes and I love your recipes! My family loves your coconut rice, and tonight I made your mint rice. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful recipes with us ?

5 stars
Very nice and easy recipes from you. I like them a lot. Keep sharing

5 stars
Mint pulao was awesome. Everyone at home Enjoyed the food. Thanks for sharing this recipe