InstantPot Mint Pulao Recipe / Pudina Pulao - Easy Lunchbox Recipe / Instant Pot Pulao Recipe

 

I prefer One Pot Meal for a Quick Lunch meal, and this Mint Pulao is one such time saver recipe using InstantPot. The whole meal is ready in 30 minutes and everything done in one pot, don't worry about ginger garlic paste or chopping vegetables for a flavorful Pulao, Just blend handful of mint, cilantro, ginger, garlic to a paste and use any available veggies or just some cut potato cubes and frozen peas works for this Pulao. InstantPot Mint Pulao can be served with just Onion Raita or some Chips & Plain Yogurt/Curd. 

Tempering with Shahi Jeera/Black Cumin Seeds is must for this recipe and this adds amazing flavor which resembles to Hotel Veg Pulao. Do give it a try and let me know how it turned out to you. Now off to the Mint Pulao Recipe

InstantPot Mint Pulao

Prep time : 10 Minutes or less | Cook Time : 20 Minutes

Recipe Category : Main Course/Rice | Serves  3

Ingredients

1. Basmati Rice   1 and 1/2 cup
2. Onion  2 med(thinly sliced)
3. Tomato  1 small(chopped, optional)
4. Carrot  1 no.(sliced or chopped)
5. Potato  1 big(cut into thick strips or cubed)
6. Frozen Peas  1/4 cup
7. Lemon Juice  1/2 Tbsp
8. Ghee   1-2 Tsp
9. Turmeric Powder   1/4 tsp
10. Garam Masala powder    1 tsp
11. Salt   to taste

To Wet Grind

1. Mint   1/2 of a med size bunch
2. Cilantro     15 stems or 1/4 of a small bunch
3. Green Chilli   5 no.(or to taste)
4. Garlic    4 fat clove
5. Ginger  1.5 inch fat piece

To Temper

1. Oil    3 Tbsp
2. Shahi Jeera/Black Cumin   1/2 tsp
3. Jeera/Cumin Seeds  1/2 tsp
4. Pepper Corns   10 pcs
5. Cinnamon 1" stick    -2 pieces
6. Clove    5 no.
7. Cardamom  5 no.
8. Bay leaf    2 small size or 1 big
9. Star Anise   1 no.

Notes:

The Same recipe can be done in Pressure Cooker and cook rice for 1-2 whistle and after cooking release the pressure manually.

Use pinch of turmeric for nice greenish color or skip turmeric powder. My kids like yellowish green pulao so I added 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder.

Along with water you can also use 1 cup of coconut milk for more rich and tastier pulao.

For this Mint Pulao i used carrot & Potato you can use any desired vegetable or just make it plain without any addition of vegetables. Either way this pulao will taste good.

Try to use shahi jeera, if unavailable in your location just skip it. I used MDH brand Garam Masala. 

Method

• First Wash and soak basmati rice for minimum 10 minutes.
• Mean while prepare mint paste with all the ingredients mentioned under the heading "To Wet Grind" to a fine paste using 1-2 tbsp water.
• Cut onion, tomato and vegetables and keep everything ready.
• Now Turn on Saute Mode on InstantPot, when its hot add oil and add tempering ingredients and fry everything well.
• Then add sliced onion and saute for 4-5 minutes or until onion turns soft and pink.
• And then add chopped tomato and saute for a minute.
• After that add ground mint paste and stir for 2-3 minutes.
• And add vegetables and mix everything well with the mint masala.
• Then add turmeric powder and garam masala powder stir fry for a minute.
• If using peas, add now and mix well with the masala and add soaked and drained basmati rice.
• Stir fry the rice with the vegetable mint masala for 1 minute.
• Now add water(i used 3 cups of water for 1.5 cup rice), lemon juice, enough salt, 1 tsp ghee mix everything well and close the lid.
• Cancel Saute Mode, Turn on Rice Mode and let it cook. Once done wait for 8-10 minutes then release the pressure manually. 
• After the pressure releases completely, open the lid and fluff the rice gently.
• That's it Tasty Mint Pulao/Pudina Pulao Ready. Serve Hot with Onion Raita.