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.

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.

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.

Variations you can make
These variations are for the first recipe (one pot)
- I have used coconut, you can replace it with onions too. Both yield good pudina rice, with different flavors.
- You can even add vegetables like potato, peas, mushroom or baby corn too while frying the paste to perk up the nutrition.
- 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.


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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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
- Firstly pluck mint leaves, add them to a large pot filled with water. Rinse them well in more water. Drain them in a colander.
- Soak rice for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
- 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.
- While the rice cooks, add the mint leaves to a small blender jar. Blend it little coarsely without adding water. Set this aside.
- 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.
- Ginger may get burnt, be quick. Add the pudina. Saute for 1 minute. Switch off the stove.
- 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.
- lemon mint rice is ready.
Related Recipes
Recipe Card

Pudina Rice | Mint Rice Pulao
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 1½ 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
- 2½ cups water (adjust to suit your rice variety, 3 cups for pot)
- 1 to 2 tablespoon lemon juice (optional)
- 1½ 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
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)
© Swasthi’s Recipes

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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Comments
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.
Hello Arvind,
Thank you! Yes you can. Use 1 teaspoon store bought paste for this recipe.
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!
I love the second recipe. Delicious and easy too. My husband loves this lemon pudina rice. Thank you
Happy to know Sneha. Thank you for sharing back how it turns out.
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
Hi Vennela
Glad to know! Thank you so much!
Thank you
Glad to know Suvarna
Wonderful recipes. I made the lemon mint rice. Turned out fantastic. Also made your chicken curry to go with it. Absolutely delicious combo
Thanks for trying Suvarna
Great recipe. Family loved it.
Thanks Lakshmi
I admire your style of writing and yes I have learnt a lot from your recipes and keep trying them.
Congratulations and thank you.
Glad to know Anila
Thank you so much!
Awesome ? ur presentation nd the way u explained ?
Thank you
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!!
Hi Martina
Glad to know! You are welcome.
Thank you
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….
Hello Lalitha
So glad to know! Thank you so much.Hope your kids enjoy more recipes from here.
I tried this recipe. It came out very well.
Thanks
You are welcome Shreedevi
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!
Hi Iby,
Thank you for sharing the pictures. Glad your family loved the mint rice.
It’s too good.Thanks for posting this recipe.
Welcome Bhargavi
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.
Hi Revathi,
You are welcome. Happy to know your pudina rice came out good. Thank you so much for trying the recipes.
🙂
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 ?
Hi Tanvi,
You are welcome. Happy to know the recipes have been useful. Thank you for comment.
🙂
Very nice and easy recipes from you. I like them a lot. Keep sharing
Hi Sheela,
Thank you so much! Yes sure will keep sharing.
🙂
Mint pulao was awesome. Everyone at home Enjoyed the food. Thanks for sharing this recipe
Welcome Veena
In love with the recipe… Came out Soo well … Thanks a lot…
Welcome Krishnaveni
Thank you so much for the comment
I have been following your recipes for quite sometime now.They ALWAYS turn out well for me.Thank you sooo much!!!
Welcome Anupama
Glad to know the recipes are useful. Thanks a lot for trying
I tried the pudina rice. It was not exactly the same way. Some steps went missing but the result was wonderful. I am happy that I tried something new and simple. I really liked ur website and hopefully next time I follow tje whole procedure.
Thanks Ray