Pudhina Puloa/Mint Rice

We have a vegetable garden in our backyard  this summer. We planted some mint and they are growing nicely. I made this Mint Pulao from our garden fresh mint. There is nothing like the smell of fresh mint and fresh cilantro from your own vegetable patch.Mint Pulao is one of those items you can whip up quickly yet it has the taste like you spent hours toiling in the kitchen heat making this perfect dish.

Ingredients:

• Mint : 2 cups
• Coriander leaves : 1cup
• Garlic : 3
• Ginger : 2 tbsp
• Coconut : 1/2 cup
• Green chilies : 8- 10(Adjust according to your spice level)
• Vegetable Oil : 3 tbsp
• Bay Leaves : 2
• Cloves: 3
• Cinnamon stick : 1/2″
• Onion : 1 (medium)chopped finely
• water : 3 1/2 cups
• Basmati Rice : 2cups
• Paneer : 1 cup (fried)(optional)
• Peas : 1/4 cup (optional)
• Cashews : few (for garnishing)
• Peanuts : few (for garnishing)

Method Of Preparation :

1. Grind mint, coriander, ginger, garlic, green chilies and coconut together into smooth paste and keep them aside.
2. Wash and soak basmati rice for 20 minutes.
3. Heat oil in a pressure cooker add bay leaves, cinnamon sticks, cloves and chopped onions fry them till becomes translucent and add the ground paste and green peas.
4. Cook them till the raw smell goes off and the oil floats on top.
5. Now add the paneer and mix it all together .
6. Add 3 1/2 cups of water and the basmati rice mix it all together.
7. Close the lid of the pressure cooker and put the whistle and let it cook in medium heat for 20 – 25 minutes and remove from heat.
8. Do not open the pressure cooker until the pressure is released.
9. After that open the cooker and add the fried cashews , fried peanuts on top of it.