Mint Corn Rice

                                                                           

There is nothing quite so  comforting as mint  in the summer months!  Health benefits apart, and there is a long list of them, I simply love it's wonderfully refreshing flavour.  While mint leaves are most commonly used in chutneys, raita ( spiced yoghurt) and juices in India,  I also like how well it goes with rice.

Mint Corn Rice is an easy recipe in which mint leaves are ground into a paste together with a few other ingredients and then cooked with rice and corn. The highlight of this recipe is the amazing aroma of mint. Too good!! This one pot meal  needs nothing else with it except maybe a raita.

With summer  peaking in Dar es Salaam what one craves for are recipes that require minimal time in the kitchen and which are light and soothing to the palate.  This was just perfect!

Ingredients: 

1 cup rice
1 cup corn
1 onion
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/4 tsp red chilly powder
1/2 tsp coriander powder
Salt to taste
2 tbsp oil
1 bay leaf
2 green cardamom
2-3 cloves
1 inch cinnamon
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
4-5 black peppercorn
1 tbsp lemon juice

To Grind
1/4 cup coriander leaves
1 tbsp mint leaves
1 tbsp fresh grated coconut
1/2 inch ginger
2 green chillies ( optional)
3 cloves garlic

Method:    Slice onion. Place coriander leaves, mint leaves, coconut, ginger, garlic and green chillies in a blender and grind till smooth.

In a heavy bottom pan heat oil and add whole spices...bay leaf, green cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, cumin seeds and peppercorn. After they crackle add onion and stir till it turns slightly golden.  Add the ground mixture and red chilli powder, turmeric powder and coriander powder. Cook for a couple of minutes till the water in the mixture starts drying out.  Add rice,salt and 2 cups of water. Cover and cook till rice is almost done and then add the corn. Uncover and add lemon juice and garnish with mint leaves before serving.

At the stage where you add rice and water, you can transfer to pressure cooker if you like ( just one whistle should be enough).  In that case you can add corn too at the same time.