Mint Pulao with Cucumber Raitha (Mint flavored rice with Yogurt chutney)

This one is a Mint lover's delight. Packed with so much flavor and such a feast for all senses.

Prep Time: 40 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients: 1 cup white basmati rice, 1 cup brown basmati rice, 1 cup fresh mint leaves, 1 cup cilantro, Juice of half a lime, serrano pepper (1), whole cloves(4-5), cinnamon stick (half), cardamom powder (1/2 tsp), cumin (1 tsp), Onion (1 large), Olive oil (3 tsp), butter(2 tsp), Salt, cashew halves (10-12)

Ingredients for Raitha: 1 cup Yogurt, 1/2 cup low fat buttermilk, seedless cucumber(1), shredded carrot(1 cup), cilantro (1/2 cup), salt

Cook away...

> Wash the rice and set aside

> Blend the Mint leaves with the cilantro, serrano pepper and lime juice to a paste

> Heat a pan on medium high and add olive oil and 1 tsp of butter

> Add the Cumin seeds, cloves and cinnamon stick to the pan and saute

> Add the Onion slices and the cardamom powder and saute for a couple of minutes

> Add the Mint paste to the onions and cook for 5 minutes

> Now add some salt and the washed rice and saute so the paste and spices combine with rice.

(The aroma emanating in your kitchen at this point is out of this world!)

> Add the entire mixture to a rice cooker and add 4 cups of water and cook until the rice is done

> In a pan, add the remaining 1 tsp butter and add the cashews and fry till they turn golden brown

> Once the rice is cooked, garnish with the cashews and serve with cucumber raitha on the side

Raitha Preparation:

> Dice the cucumber into small pieces

> Combine the cucumber, carrots, cilantro, yogurt and buttermilk in a bowl and mix thoroughly

> Add salt to taste

My Thoughts...

> You can make this dish entirely with white rice. I combine the white and brown so we don't lose on the good the brown rice has to offer :)

> You can skip the serrano pepper in the mint paste if you want this dish mild. Adding the serrano pepper only makes it medium spicy

> You can skip the cinnamon stick or the cloves if you don't have them on hand. It will still taste delicious

Until next post... Happy Eating!