Making your own Instant Pot Mint Rice, or Pudina Pulao recipe as it is popularly known in India, is a great way to enjoy the freshness of mint.
The best part about this dish is that you can easily customize it with whatever spices and vegetables you like. All you need are fresh mint leaves, tomatoes, and other ingredients.
Add some freshly grown organic mint leaves from your garden for an extra flavor.
The aroma that comes off your Instant Pot as the Pudina Pulao cooks is sure to make everyone's mouth water!
Enjoy a bowl of this deliciousness and serve with vegan raita for an even more flavorful experience.
Once you try this dish, it will be hard to resist making it repeatedly.
If you like this recipe, try my Instant Pot mushroom rice, Vegetable rice, and Vegetable pulao.
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Why you will like this recipe:
- It's an easy and quick one-pot meal that can be cooked in the Instant Pot.
- The freshness of mint leaves gives it a unique flavor.
- Customizable with your favorite spices and vegetables like other pulao recipes.
- Aromatic, delicious, nutritious, and flavorful rice!
- Perfect for busy weekdays yet also fancy enough to serve for dinner parties.
- It's a great way to use homegrown organic pudina leaves.
- Suitable for vegans and vegetarians alike!
Ingredients
- Pudina or mint leaves: This recipe requires many mint leaves.
- Tomatoes
- Basmati rice: Use good quality basmati rice for this recipe. Do not use regular long-grain rice as it will not taste the same.
- Spices: I have used a combination of spices like cumin seeds, cinnamon, turmeric powder, and red chili powder
- Green peas (optional): I have used frozen peas for this recipe, but you can use fresh peas too. If you use fresh peas, cook them before adding them to the rice.
- Roasted cashews: I have used roasted cashews. You can use any variety of nuts like almonds, pistachios, or even peanuts.
See the recipe card for a list of ingredients and quantities, plus recipe instructions. You can find the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Method
First press saute mode in Instant Pot and add a few teaspoons of oil. As the oil heats up, add cumin seeds and saute until they sizzle.
Add chopped onions, and saute until it's translucent. Add chopped tomatoes. Saute it for another 20-30 sec. Now, add all the spices and continue to stir well.
Add frozen peas or any choice of vegetables. Add freshly chopped mint leaves. Mix well. Add the rinsed Basmati Rice, one and a half cups of water, and salt, and stir well.
Press ‘Cancel’ to stop sauteing and close the instant pot lid. Press the ‘pressure cook’ setting and set the timer for 4 mins high pressure.
Finally, let the pressure release naturally before opening the lid. Garnish with some fresh coriander leaves and lime juice and enjoy the deliciousness!
Flavorful pudina pulao is ready! Serve it hot with a pairing like a curry or plain yogurt!
Variations
- When you saute the onion and tomatoes, you could add vegetables like potatoes, green beans, carrots, cauliflower, and bell peppers.
- I have used basmati rice for this pudina rice recipe, which can also be prepared with sona masuri rice.
- You can skip the cashew nuts if you do not prefer that flavor. Instead, you could add roasted peanuts.
- If you prefer to use brown rice instead of basmati or sona masuri rice, be sure to follow the stovetop method.
- Add a bay leaf and a few star anise while cooking to add flavor.
- Make a mint paste by grinding the leaves with a little water and two tablespoons of fresh coconut into a smooth paste. This will help spread the mint flavor in your rice evenly.
Tips
- Always use fresh mint leaves for the best flavor.
- Ensure all the ingredients are well combined before setting your Instant Pot to cook.
- For extra spice, add some green chilies or red chili powder.
- Add some freshly squeezed lemon juice if you like your pulao to have a bit more flavor.
Storage
Store the leftover rice in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or stovetop before serving.
Pairing
Serve the mint rice recipe hot with a pairing such as vegan cucumber raita. You can also pair it with lobia masala or aloo matar if you prefer your rice to be hot and spicy.
South Indians prefer to eat pudina rice or cooked rice with onion raita.
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📖 Recipe
Pudina Pulao (Instant Pot Mint Rice)
Equipment
Process Shot
Check above for step-by-step pictures (most of my recipes include pictures)
Ingredients
- 1½ cup basmati rice
- 1½ cup water
- ¼ teaspoon ground Black pepper
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- Salt to taste
- 1 cup chopped red onions
- 1 cup chopped mint leaves
- ½ cup chopped tomatoes
- ¼ cup chopped cashews
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- ½ cup frozen peas
- pinch turmeric powder
Instructions
Instant Pot Method
- First press saute mode in Instant Pot and add a few teaspoons of oil. As the oil heats up, add cumin seeds and saute until they start to sizzle.1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- Add chopped onions, and saute until it's translucent. Add chopped tomatoes. Saute it for another 20-30 sec. Now, add all the spices one by one and continue to stir well.¼ teaspoon ground Black pepper, ½ teaspoon coriander powder, ½ teaspoon cumin powder, ½ teaspoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon red chili powder, ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder, 1 cup chopped red onions, ½ cup chopped tomatoes, pinch turmeric powder
- Add frozen peas or any choice of your vegetables. Add freshly chopped mint leaves. Mix well. Now add the rinsed Basmati Rice, water, salt and give a good stir.1½ cup basmati rice, 1 cup chopped mint leaves, ½ cup frozen peas, 1½ cup water
- Press ‘Cancel’ to stop sauteing and close the instant pot lid.
- Press the ‘pressure cook’ setting and set the timer for 4 mins high pressure.
- After the timer expires, use the natural pressure release option. Open the lid when it is safe to do so. Add chopped cilantro(optional) and roasted cashews. Flavorful mint rice is ready!¼ cup chopped cashews
Stovetop method
- Place a pan over medium heat and fry chopped cashews over medium heat with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.
- When they turn golden brown, remove the cashews and fry cumin seeds with the remaining oil.
- Saute the cumin seeds for about 20 seconds and add chopped onions and continue to saute until they turn transparent.
- Add chopped tomatoes and saute for a minute.
- Now, add all the spices (Coriander powder, Cumin powder, Garam Masala powder, Black pepper, and Chilli Powder) and stir for about a minute and cover with a lid.
- Let it cook for about 2 minutes and then add the chopped mint leaves and cook for another 3-4 minutes.
- Now add the fried cashews and turn off the heat.
- Mix this with cooked rice (White or Brown) in a large bowl. Enjoy the mint rice with raita
Video
Notes
- Always use fresh mint leaves for the best flavor.
- Ensure all the ingredients are well combined before setting your Instant Pot to cook.
- For extra spice, add some green chilies or red chili powder.
- Add some freshly squeezed lemon juice if you like your pulao to have a bit more flavor.
YOUR OWN NOTES
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimation only.
Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
Happiness in a bowl -- WOW! I'm all in for that. I've got mint growing right outside my kitchen door. I'm sure I have the rest of the ingredients in my spice cabinet. I've got to surprise Hubby with this dish.
Jessica (Swanky Recipes)
I love fresh ingredient recipes like this dish. This recipe uses some of my favorite ingredients and I bet the flavor is delicious. I totally watched the short video and can't believe it's so easy to make, yum!
Valerie Gray (@valmg)
We have rice often here, sometimes as a side and sometimes as an ingredient in something else. This sounds like a very flavorful dish.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan
Mint rice is one of my favorite and this is the reason I grow tons of mint in my backyard. Love how simple and flavorful this dish is and it is a great one for lunch boxes.
swathi
I like your version of mint ice as it requires only few steps. One pot rice is always bliss during busy days.. I have tried one recipe, which is slightly different from this one. I will blog soon.
Christine - Jar Of Lemons
Looks delicious! I've never made mint rice before, but would love to try it. Such a great idea!
Uma Raghupathi
I hope you will enjoy !
Daniela Anderson
Flavourful and delicious, it's all we need when we are under pressure to get a dish done quickly. Everyone loves rice in my family, this recipe would be enjoyed for sure.
Uma Raghupathi
Thanks:)
Adriana Martin
Love mediterranean food I am Mexican but Lebanese blood is also part of my heritage. I prepare a version of your rice but it is slightly different. Must try yours soon =)
Amanda | My Gluten-Free Miami
The only thing I'm missing is the garam masala. I can make this soon. It is a very versatile dish for a busy day.
Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife
The combination of spices you have in this rice sound absolutely delicious. We can definitely use some new ideas to spice up our rice side dishes, and this would be a great new one to try!
Kylee Cooks
Mint and rice is a great combination! Perfect for going with all kinds of dishes, and super yummy.
Uma Raghupathi
Thanks Kylee!
ManilaSpoon
I was just looking at the list of spices you have added to this rice and wow -- with all that I can just imagine an explosion of flavors! Love the minty taste, too!
Gloria Duggan
I have never combined mint and rice together. This recipe sounds intriguing. We love rice, and I think this would go perfect with lamb.
Uma Raghupathi
Thank you !
VeenaAzmanov
Such an amazing blend of spices you have. The rice sounds really so fragrant. I must try it.
Uma Raghupathi
Thanks Veena:)
Sarah
I am all for a recipe that guarantees happiness! That blend of spices in your recipes sounds so delicious, and I love love love adding cashews to rice!
Uma Raghupathi
Thank you Sarah:)