Photo: Sutapa Pal · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Tamilnadu · Breakfast

Pudina Sadam (புதினா சாதம்)

Traditional 80. Pudina Sadam recipe

🧺 Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked rice (leftover, cooled)
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves (pudina), tightly packed
• ½ cup fresh coriander leaves + stems
• ½ cup fresh coconut, grated
• 3 green chilies
• 1-inch ginger
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp roasted chana dal (pottukadalai) — for thickness
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ¼ tsp salt
• 3 tbsp water (for blending)
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• ½ tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp urad dal
• 10 curry leaves
• 2 dried red chilies, broken
• 1 medium onion, finely diced
• Do not over-cook the mint paste (more than 5 minutes) — the chlorophyll degrades and the beautiful green turns dull khaki-brown

👩‍🍳 How to make Pudina Sadam

1. Wash mint and coriander leaves thoroughly.
2. Shake dry.
3. Blend with green chilies, ginger, garlic, grated coconut, roasted chana dal, lemon juice, and salt.
4. Add 3 tbsp water for blending.
5. Blend to a smooth, vibrant green paste.
6. Taste — it should be intensely minty, garlicky, with a citrus edge.
7. Set aside.
8. Heat 2 tbsp sesame oil in a wide kadai over high heat.
9. Add mustard seeds — crackle 20 seconds.
10. Add urad dal — fry 30 seconds until golden.
11. Add broken red chilies — fry 10 seconds.
12. Add curry leaves — sizzle 10 seconds.
13. Add diced onion.
14. Fry on medium-high heat for 3 minutes until golden and softened.
15. Add the blended mint paste to the onion-tempering.
16. Fry on medium heat for 3–4 minutes, stirring continuously, until the raw green color brightens to a vivid green, the raw garlic smell cooks out, and a small amount of oil separates at the edges.
17. This brief cooking is essential — raw mint paste would make the rice smell sharp and unpleasant.
18. Add leftover rice.
19. Toss gently and thoroughly until every grain turns vivid green from the mint paste.
20. Add ½ tsp salt (adjust).
21. Warm through on low heat for 2 minutes.
22. Taste for salt and mint-spice balance.
23. Serve warm or at room temperature.
24. Pudina sadam pairs beautifully with plain yogurt (thayir) on the side.
25. The vibrant green color is visually striking.

Track the macros of Pudina Sadam and 100s of Indian dishes with Nutri Macro India.