Mint Pulao

If your looking for something fresh,spicy and green...mint pulao should be on the menu... ....I love this dish coz its simple to make,fast,a one pot meal.Its tasty and yet many people think it involves a complicated recipe.

Pulao is a dish made with rice (Basmati ),vegetables and meat like lamb chicken or beef.Very popular in India,Pakistan, Bangladesh and other surrounding countries.
I have eaten many varieties of mint pulao but this is my fav,passed on from grandmother.The photo shows the mint pulao with no meat (As I was cooking for some vegan frends)but when made with Chicken or lamb it gets even better.

To make the pulao you need:
Mint leaves,corriander leaves,8 chillies,cumin seeds,ginger and garlic paste,1 big onion chopped,spices like bayleaf,cinnamon,cloves and cardamom,1 and 1/2 cups basmati rice,oil,chilli powder,Garam masala powder,2 and 1/4 cups of water.
Method

1. Blend together handful of fresh mint and corriander leaves,8 chillies,cumin seeds,4 cloves of garlic, 1 inch ginger piece or you could use store bought Ginger and Garlic paste.
2. Wash rice and soak in water for 1/2 hour.
3. Heat oil in a large pan,once its hot add some cumin seeds,and all the spices followed by the the onions and the blended paste once the onions are cooked (if you are using any meat or vegetables,this is where you add the meat)drain out water and put in just the rice,fry for about 2 -3 minutes.
4. Now season with salt,chilli powder and Garam Masala.
5. Pour in the water and let it cook till the rice is cooked.

This dish is usually eaten with Raita- which is made by mixing 1 cup yogurt,some finely chopped onions ,tomatoes,corriander leaves and a small pinch of salt.