Mint Rice / Pudina Sadham / Mint Rice With Capsicum - Easy Lunch Box Recipe

If you are looking for a quick, simple and easy to make lunch box rice recipe? Then this Mint Rice is one such recipe that you can make it in a jiffy. If you have Fresh Mint Leaves in abundant, then this mint rice is a must try recipe. There's a small garden in my neighbor gaury's house. They planted tomato, bell pepper, watermelon, mint leaves, tulsi, methi and few more greens. Mint had grown abundantly in their garden so every week i get fresh mint leaves from their garden. Auntie gave me a huge bunch every time, i enjoyed making my favorite Mint Chutney for idlis, Aloo Mint Raita, Mint Thogayal, Green Chaat Chutney.
Last month while browsing at Priya's Blog for her Anniversary special Event, i came across this "Mint Rice" recipe in her blog and the recipe was so simple with very few ingredients which pulled me to try it immediately. Now this is one of my Hubby's favorite lunch box recipe along with some stir fried veggies. Thanks to Priya for this simple and yummy recipe. I slightly tweaked the recipe and it turned out so good. Now off to the recipe...

Recipe Source : slightly adapted from Here

Preparation Time : 10 minutes(includes cleaning mint leaves) Cooking Time : 15-20 minutes

Serves   2

Ingredients

1. Cooked Rice    1 cup 
2. Mint Leaves     1 cup (loosely packed)
3. Green chilli     3 no. or to taste
4. Pearl Onion/Shallots     8(peeled & roughly chopped)
5. Onion    2 tbsp thinly sliced(optional)
6. Capsicum/Green Bell Pepper     1/4 cup (diced)
7. Salt     to taste
8. Cilantro / Coriander leaves     to garnish

To Temper

1. Oil    1 tbsp
2. Bay leaf    1 no.
3. Cumin seeds    1/4 tsp
4. Urad dal    1/2 tsp
5. Cashew nuts    6-8 no.
6. Curry leaves     few

Method

• First, in a platter smear some oil and spread the cooked rice and allow to cool completely. I used sona masoori rice, you can use basmati rice or any desired rice.
• Then in a blender, add mint leaves, shallots, green chilli and blend it to a fine paste using little water.

• After that, heat oil in a pan add the tempering ingredients one by one and fry till the dal and cashews gets light golden brown and add onion, saute well.
• After that add the diced capsicum, sprinkle little salt and stir fry for 1-2 minutes.

• And then add the ground mint paste and cook in medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
• Once the raw smell leaves, add the cooked rice and enough salt and mix well.
• That's it...Yummy & Flavorful Mint Rice / Pudina Sadham ready.