Mint Rice

Mint rice is one of the most quietly impressive side dishes you can put on a table. Fluffy basmati rice cooked with fresh mint leaves and olive oil in the Instant Pot until every grain has absorbed that cool, herbal flavor and taken on a subtle green hue that looks as good as it tastes. It pairs with spicy curries, grilled meats, lemony chicken, and roasted vegetables with equal ease and takes the kind of ordinary side dish role that most rice plays and makes it genuinely interesting.

This herbed rice recipe is as simple as it gets. Everything goes into the Instant Pot together, you press the rice button, and thirty-five minutes later you have rice that tastes like something from a good Mediterranean restaurant.

Why You’ll Love This Mint Rice

• Completely hands-off: The Instant Pot does the work. Add everything, seal, press rice, and walk away. No watching, no stirring, no risk of the bottom burning.
• Fresh mint in every grain: This isn’t just rice with a garnish. The mint flavor runs through each piece throughout the entire cook rather than just sitting on top.
• Goes with everything: This herbed rice recipe pairs with almost any main dish. It is mild enough to complement bold flavors without competing with them and interesting enough to make people notice the side dish.
• Looks special: The subtle green tint from the mint leaves makes this look significantly more special than standard white rice without any extra effort.

Ingredients Needed to Make Mint Rice

• Basmati rice: the ideal variety for this recipe. Its long grain structure stays light and fluffy after pressure cooking and its slightly floral, nutty flavor pairs naturally with fresh mint. Always rinse before cooking to remove excess starch.
• Fresh mint leaves: the flavor driver. Fresh mint produces a bright, cool, herbal note throughout every grain. Dried mint works but produces a more muted, less vibrant result.
• Water: the cooking liquid. The standard 1:1 ratio with basmati rice produces perfectly cooked, non-sticky results in the Instant Pot.
• Olive oil: adds a slight richness and a subtle fruity flavor that pairs naturally with the mint and prevents the grains from clumping.
• Salt and pepper: season throughout.

How to Make Mint Rice

Step 1: Load the Instant Pot

Add the washed basmati rice, water, olive oil, fresh mint leaves, salt, and pepper to the Instant Pot. Stir well to evenly distribute the mint throughout the rice.

Step 2: Cook

Select the rice setting on the Instant Pot. Seal the vent. Cook according to your model’s instructions for white rice, typically about 12 minutes under pressure.

Step 3: Fluff and Serve

Once done, carefully release the pressure. Use a fork to gently fluff the rice and separate the grains. Serve warm.

Can I Make This Mint Rice on the Stovetop?

Yes. Combine the rice, water, olive oil, mint, salt, and pepper in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, reduce to a low simmer, cover tightly, and cook for 15 to 18 minutes until the water is absorbed. Remove from heat, let sit covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.

Storing

Store in a sealed airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave with a small splash of water to restore moisture, or reheat in a skillet over medium heat with a drizzle of olive oil.

What to Serve With Mint Rice

This pairs especially well with lamb dishes, spicy curries, and anything with a lemony or herby flavor profile. It pairs beautifully alongside grilled chicken, roasted vegetables, or a crunchy sesame cucumber salad. For a full meal built around this rice, the Curry Lamb Meatballs served over a generous scoop of mint rice is one of the best combinations on the blog.

What People Ask About Mint Rice

Can I use dried mint instead of fresh?

You can but the result will be noticeably more subtle. Fresh mint contains volatile oils that produce the bright, vibrant, cool herbal flavor this rice is known for. Dried mint has lost most of those oils and produces a more muted, background-level mint note rather than the prominent fresh flavor the recipe is built around. If using dried mint substitute 1 tablespoon of dried for the 1/3 cup of fresh.

What type of rice works best for mint rice?

Basmati is specifically recommended for its long grain structure, light texture after cooking, and subtly floral flavor that pairs naturally with fresh mint. Jasmine rice works as a substitute and produces a slightly stickier, more fragrant result. Short-grain or medium-grain rice would work but produces a stickier, denser final texture that is less suited to this recipe.

Do I need an immersion blender for a smoother texture?

No, and the recipe doesn’t call for one. The mint leaves cook directly with the rice and infuse the grains with their flavor without blending. If you want a more uniform green color throughout you can blend the mint with the olive oil before adding it to the Instant Pot which distributes the color more evenly. The texture and flavor stay the same either way.

What else can I add to this rice?

Toasted pine nuts stirred in after cooking add a crunchy, nutty element. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the finished rice adds brightness. Finely chopped fresh parsley or cilantro mixed in alongside the mint adds a more complex herbal profile. Crumbled feta scattered over the top adds a salty, tangy finish that pairs beautifully with both the mint and the basmati.