Coriander & mint pulao, quick and and easy one pot meal. A mildly spiced, kid-friendly lunch box recipe.
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Green leaves, I don’t know what they did to kids and even some adults, the moment they find one in their plate, they pick it up like a dead fly and throw it out. I admit they might have a strange taste when eaten raw, but as a tempering to a dish, they are good. But god only knows why the lil people react strange!!
I too have 2 of them who give the same reaction . Elder one gives a decent one, don’t ask about the younger fella!!! 🙄 So I normally powder the curry leaves and grind the coriander so they don’t identify it. My elder one loves green chutney, the same leaves which irks him in its original form. Weird, right! When the leaves are ground with other spices it masks their original taste.
This quick one pot meal , is how I hide and seek the greens into their diet. This flavorsome pulao with coriander and mint, sautéed with mild spices makes a delicious meal with a raita. They love the aroma of their pulao, especially my elder one when he opens his lunch box and the aroma glides to his nose , he just enjoys it!!
That is why i m sure, even your lil one who hates these leaves, will definitely enjoy this quick and easy pulao. Since I made this for my kids, it will be mildly spiced, if you are making it for adults adjust the spice accordingly.
The Ingredients
- Rice, i have used basmati rice, you can also use sona masuri or any regular rice that can be cooked soft and fluffy.
- Herbs, i have ketp it simple and used mint and coriander leaves.
- Spices, i have used garlic, one green chili along wtih red chili and coriander powder.
- Tempering, i have used whole spices like cardamom, bay leaf and clove. you can also use garam masala powder instead of whole spices.
More One-pot Rice ideas
Coriander & Mint Pulao | Kid-friendly Lunch box recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup basmati rice sona masuri can also be used
- 4 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
- 4 tablespoon fresh coriander lwacces
- 1 no green chili
- ¼ teaspoon red chili powder
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Tempering
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 no clove
- 1 no bay leaf
- 1 no small green cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon cumin seeds
Instructions
- Wash rice with water, until it runs clear, and soak for 15 minutes in water. Drain & keep aside until use. Do not waste the rice-washed water, if you have plants in your balcony or backyard, you can water them with this water.
- Take coriander and mint leavs along with chili, garlic in a blender, add 2 tablespoon of water and blend smooth.
- Heat oil in a wide pan, when it is hot,add clove, bay leaf and cardamon and saute for 30 seconds, then add cumin.After adding cumin, immediately add the blended green paste and saute for aminute.
- Now add rice to this and 1.5 cups ofwater. I washed the blender with ½ cup of water and added that water too. Add red chili, coriander, turmeri powder and salt to this. Mix well.
- When it begins to boil, cover and cook for 10-12 minutes or until done. It was done in 13 minutes for me.
- Remove the cover, fluff it up with fork, serve warm with raita or some crisps for a scrumptious meal.
Video
Serve this simple and easy coriander & mint pulao with a simple raita or pack it with some crisps for the lunch box.
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An old post from August 2017, updated with new content for better engagement.
Preeti
Love to eat with curd and aloo curry.. amazing lunchbox meal.
Rafeeda AR
Hehe… exactly what's wrong with the little people? I guess we were also that way when we were little… 🙂 I love this pulao anytime… so delicious…
cookingwithsapana
Very flavorful and inviting pulao. Loved all varieties of the rice you posted this week.
Varada's Kitchen
Mint and cilantro sounds so flavorful in the pulao. Mine does not mind green leaves but will surely love this pulao.
Sharmila kingsly
Delicious and lovely green pulao.. I loved it!!
Srivalli
Such a flavoursome rice Priya…actually even now if I have to make greens, I hesitate for a moment..hehehe..so its only natural that kids don't like it right away..this is a great way to use them..
vaishali sabnani
I love greens and enjoy them with anything . The rice sounds very flavourful and perfect for lunchbox .
Unknown
Quite a flavoursome pilau. Kids will certainly love it
Chef Mireille
my two favorite herbs – great pulao
Jyoti Babel
Such a flavourful pulao…
Gayathri Kumar
My kid is also like that Priya. Even I do either grind it or powder it so that she doesn't identify them in her dish. This pulao is such a flavourful dish and I am sure it is every kid's delight.