What is Methi Leaves Rice?

This is an Indian traditional dish in which methi leaves, along with a number of spices and lentils, are cooked with rice. Methi leaves have a bitter taste, but they become soft after getting cooked and give a mild, savory flavor that sets out the other ingredients in this dish perfectly. It is very healthy and delectable. It can be prepared for lunch as well as for dinner.

Methi leaves have a great flavour and several benefits for health so these are probably the most widely used leaves in the Indian kitchen, the rice cooked with leaves are a very comforting simple food stuffed with flavours.

Ingredients for Methi Leaves Rice

You just need some ingredients available in your kitchen to cook Methi Leaves Rice. That includes:

Main Ingredients:

• • • Cooked Rice: Basmati, Jasmine, or use whatever variety you desire. Generally speaking, cooked just for this recipe as freshly made as you like.
    • Methi Leaves (Fenugreek) – Fresh methi leaves are the mainstay of this recipe. You should be able to find them in your local grocery store or at an Indian market.
    • Finely chopped onion – adds sweetness and depth of flavor to the dish.
    • Green Chilies – These add a little hot to the rice, but you can use as much as you like according to spice preference.

For Tempering (Tadka or Seasoning):

• • • Oil or Ghee – You can use oil or ghee to fry the spices and temper the rice.
    • Mustard Seeds – Mustard seeds give a good burst of flavor when they pop in hot oil, adding a nice crunch.
    • Cumin Seeds – These seeds add a warm, earthy flavor that complements the methi leaves.
    • Urad Dal (Black Gram) – This lentil contributes a nutty flavor and crunch to the dish.
    • Hing (Asafoetida) – A pinch of hing adds a flavor that enhances the entire dish and provides a different smell to the rice.
    • Curry Leaves – The aromatic leaves make the rice aromatic and more palatable.
    • Turmeric Powder – Turmeric makes the rice look golden and offers more health benefits.
    • Available Optional Garnishes:
    • Coconut Grated – Fresh coconut grated on a grater gives a mild flavor and makes the rice fluffier.
    • Lemon Juice – Pouring a teaspoon of lemon juice just before its serving will get a tangy, sour effect that balances all the bitterness provided by the leaves of methi.

How To Make – Step by Step Guide

1. Preparation of Methi Leaves

• • Making Methi Leaves Rice requires preparation of this nutritious and super tasty dish – Methi.Begin by washing the methi leaves free of all dirt or impurities present. As this is a ground level crop, methi leaves tend to collect more dust, and therefore, require proper cleaning. Chopped leaves follow. 

2. Cook The Rice

• • If you don’t have leftover rice, you must first cook your rice before using this recipe. So, wash your rice thoroughly, and cook in a pot or cooker with the right amount of water. Make sure your rice is fluffy but not sticky. Once done, set aside your rice.

3. Prepare tempering

• • Put 1-2 tablespoon oil or ghee in large pan or kadhai over low-medium heat and let mustard seed go into this oil when that mustard seed hits that hot oil they splutters so when spluttering stop so it gets prepared to allow all the aroma and flavor released by them for serving.
  • As the mustard seeds start to pop, add cumin seeds and let them sizzle for some time. Finally, add urad dal, black gram, and roast till the color is brownish golden brown. It is added because the nice crunch to this dish.
  • Add the chopped onions finely to the pan. Cook them until they become soft and golden brown. That step goes going to pick sweetness out from onions and thus can be created with their natural flavor.

4. Add the Methi Leaves

• • Now add the chopped methi leaves to the pan along with the onions. Mix well and let them cook for 3-4 minutes till they wilt down. You will realize that the bitterness of the methi starts reducing as they get cooked.
  • If you want your rice a bit spicy, it’s time to add green chilies (either chopped or whole) to the pan.

5: Season the Rice

• • Add a pinch of turmeric powder, little salt, and a bit of hing or asafoetida to it when the methi leaves get boiled down. Toss everything around very well so that spices boil in this concoction for almost two minutes.

6. Mix with Rice

• • Now mix the rice into the pan having methi leaves and spices, stir well not mashing rice. Nicely coat rice by methi mixture. Let them cook for further 2 to 3 minutes on low flame. Now it is sure, the flavors need to mix nicely.

7. Garnish and Serve

• • Now take off the pan from the stove and once it is heated properly, mix up everything and put the rice into a bowl and garnish with fresh grated coconut and lemon juice. And that’s all about it; it is time to serve it. Serve Methi Leaves Rice hot with a dollop of yogurt or simply dal.

Health Benefits of Methi Leaves

Nutrient-rich

• • This leaf is said to be quite nutrient-rich when it comes to iron, vitamin C, folic acid, and calcium. Other ingredients help to support good health, while the others, such as immunity, are associated with having strong bones.

Digestive Aids

• • They contain fiber, which helps in proper bowel movement and prevents constipation. Methi leaves can keep your digestive system running smoothly when included in the diet.

Controls Blood Sugar Levels

• • Methi has been shown to have an effect on the blood sugar level, which can improve insulin sensitivity, thereby reducing spikes in blood sugar. Regular intake of methi, as is the case in Methi Leaves Rice, might be beneficial to type 2 diabetes patients.

Helps in Weight Loss

• • Thare low in calories but rich in fiber, making it a good choice for people to eat during weight loss. The fiber satisfies your belly for a longer period, thereby reducing the possibilities of overeating.

Promotes Healthy Skin

• • Methi has antioxidant properties in its leaves which have anti-inflammatory properties and assist in improving overall skin health, and they usually treat the conventional remedies for these skin issues or problems like dryness, acnes, etc.

Stimulates Hair Growth

• • Methi leaves are rich in essential nutrients, such as iron and proteins, which promote healthy hair growth. Methi paste applied to the scalp is also said to prevent hair fall and dandruff.

Tips to Make the Best Methi Leaves 

• • Although the recipe for Methi Leaves Rice is straightforward, here are some tips to make it even better:
  • Fresh Methi Leaves: The best flavor and texture of this dish are given by fresh methi leaves. If you don’t get fresh methi, you might use the dry ones-kasuri methi. Of course, it would taste slightly different.
  • Add to this whatever quantity of green chilies you may require. Add the red chili powder, if your rice has to be hotter.
  • Add protein: Add cooked lentils or chickpeas to make the dish much fuller with extra protein.
  • Use Ghee to Give an Additional Flavor: Cook spices in ghee instead of oil if you want to make it richer. It will also give the rice a beautiful flavor and aroma.
  • Conclusion: Try Methi Leaves Rice Today!
  • Methi leaves rice is one of those dishes that are tasty, nutritious, and relatively very easy to make. Regarding nutrition, it has almost all the nutrients and other health benefits needed in the diet. So, this recipe would really suit methi leaves and ideal choice for easy lunch or dinner recipes.
  • So why not give it a try? Get into your kitchen, gather up your ingredients, and enjoy these flavors of a wholesome dish. Let us know how it goes and share variations in the comments below!

Share Your Experience

• • Have you ever tried Methi Leaves Rice? What was your impression about it? Do you have any tips or variations of this recipe? Just let us know your experience and ideas in the comments section.