Mint leaves are one of the most widely used herbs worldwide to prepare different beverages, desserts and savoury dishes. The usage of mint leaves in Asian food and Indian cuisine is incomparable. This magical herb is known to the whole world because of its unique flavour and health benefits.
Mint leaves powder aka pudina powder recipe is one of the best and smartest ways to preserve mint leaves for a whole year as it is not so easy to get fresh mint leaves all throughout the year. Thus you can use the fantastic flavoured herb any time. It is a very quick and easy DIY Recipe with the help of which you can enhance the flavour of your food. Learn to make pudina powder at home in 4 different ways.
Table of Contents
About the recipe
Health Benefits of Pudina
How to make dry Pudina powder (step wise photos)
Recipe Card
What is a Mint leaf?
Mint leaf is also known as pudina in India. It is an aromatic herb which has been used in Ayurveda from ancient times for its health benefits. Pudina has extended use in food as a flavouring agent as well. It is used to prepare chutneys, beverages, desserts, candies, soup, pakoda, appetizers and many more savoury dishes. Mint is a green leaf with a thick stem. Usually mint leaves are plucked from the stem and then used in culinary.
Mint leaves powder is basically powder of dried mint leaves. There are various ways to dry the mint leaves. You can sundry the leaves or you can use a microwave, oven or gas top to dry up the mint leaves. The Pudina powder recipe has the perfect flavour of fresh mint leaves and could be a perfect substitute for the fresh herb.
In Indian cuisine, mint powder has occupied one of the major parts of flavouring food. It is not only limited to savouries but is also used in desserts and beverages as well. I know it is jaw-dropping for many of you who are not very familiar with this herb but it’s true.
Pudina powder recipe is very popular in India. The taste and flavour of mint always take the dish to its next level. The best part of the herb is that it can easily gel up with any flavoured or unflavoured ingredient. There are many dishes in Indian cuisine where mint works as the hero ingredient. Pudina Rice, pudina pakoda and pudina paratha are a few justified examples of it.
DIY Recipe
In today’s world, DIY recipe has become very trendy. There are many valid reasons behind it. One of the main reasons is health awareness. It is only in exchange for little effort that few things we can make better than the market selling goods. Today, though many things are easily available globally but still in many cases DIY Recipe helps a lot to up bring the authenticity of many traditional foods.
Pudina powder recipe is a very simple and easy-to-make recipe. The difficulty level of preparing this recipe is very low which is perfect for novices. The best part of the recipe is that it gets prepared very quickly without investing much time.
Mint leaves powder with step-by-step photos and instructions have been provided in the ‘Instruction’ section of the recipe. But before directly jumping into the recipe, let me share a few interesting facts about the recipe and the hero ingredient ‘Mint leaves’.
Benefits of Pudina
- Pudina (mint) leaves are one of the most useful herbs worldwide. They are used as home remedies from ancient times to fight against many diseases. It has great use in Ayurveda.
- Mint oil is used in toothpaste, chewing gum, mouth fresheners etc. for refreshing breath.
- Pudina (mint) contains menthol and it helps to get relief from sore throat.
- It is very good for our digestive system too. It helps to get rid of indigestion and gastric ulcer.
- Pudina leaves have great use, especially during summer for their cooling properties.
Uses of pudina powder recipe
- Pudina powder can be used to prepare mint tea.
- It could be used to prepare your own homemade chaat masala.
- It can be used to prepare different types of summer beverages like masala soda, mojito drinks, aam panna, pudina-nimbu pani etc.
- It can be used to prepare pudina cucumber raita or pudina mayonnaise.
- It can be added to any savoury item instead of mint leaves.
How to make dry pudina powder at home
To prepare the pudina powder recipe, first take mint leaves and pluck them from the stems. Then put the mint leaves in a strainer and wash them thoroughly in running water. Then spread each leaf on kitchen tissue. Then pat the leaves with another kitchen tissue to dry up each mint leaf.
In microwave: Spread the mint leaves properly in a single layer on a microwavable plate. Make sure each mint leaf has a minimum gap from each other. Then transfer the plate into the microwave and close the door. Run the microwave for 2 minutes and take out the plate.
On stove top: You can transfer the washed and dried fresh mint leaves into a pan and then dry roast it over low flame for 7-8 minutes until the mint leaves become crispy. Stir it continuously.
In oven: Line the baking tray either with aluminium foil or parchment paper. Spread the mint leaves in a single layer on the tray and make sure each mint leaf has a minimum gap from the other. Preheat the oven to 180℉ and then transfer the tray to the middle of the oven for around 2 hours to dehydrate. Keep your eyes after 2 hours. Take the tray out of the oven when the mint leaves will become crisp.
Sun-dried: Spread the mint leaves properly in a single layer on plates. Make sure each mint leaf has a minimum gap from each other. Dry them under the sunlight for 2 days until the leaves become crispy.
Then transfer the crispy mint leaves to a plate and allow them to come to room temperature. Then with the help of a clean hand crush the mint leaves and transfer them into a jar of a grinder. Close the lid and pulse it to fine dust. Transfer the powder to an airtight clean container and keep it in a cool dry place.
Many other homemade masala recipes have already been shared in my previous posts. You can check a few of them like
Pav bhaji masala
Dabeli masala recipe
Bengali bhaja masala
Roasted Cumin Powder
Panch phoran masala
..And Many more…
Ingredients:
- 500 grams Mint leaves aka Pudina
Instructions:
- Take mint leaves and pluck them from the stems. Then put the mint leaves in a strainer and wash them thoroughly in running water.
- Spread each leaf on kitchen tissue. Then pat the leaves with another kitchen tissue to dry up each mint leaf.
- Now you can follow any of the below methods.
- In microwave: Spread the mint leaves properly in a single layer on a microwavable plate. Make sure each mint leaf has a minimum gap from each other. Then transfer the plate into the microwave and close the door. Run the microwave for 2 minutes and take out the plate.
- On stove top: You can transfer the washed and dried fresh mint leaves into a pan and then dry roast it over low flame for 7-8 minutes until the mint leaves become crispy. Stir it continuously.
- In oven: Line the baking tray either with aluminium foil or parchment paper. Spread the mint leaves in a single layer on the tray and make sure each mint leaf has a minimum gap from the other. Preheat the oven to 180℉ and then transfer the tray to the middle of the oven for around 2 hours to dehydrate. Keep your eyes after 2 hours. Take the tray out of the oven when the mint leaves will become crisp.
- Sun-dried process: Spread the mint leaves properly in a single layer on plates. Make sure each mint leaf has a minimum gap from each other. Dry them under the sunlight for 2 days until the leaves become crispy.
- Transfer the crispy mint leaves to a plate and allow them to come to room temperature. Then with the help of a clean hand crush the mint leaves.
- Transfer the crushed mint leaves into a jar of a grinder. Close the lid and pulse it to fine dust. Transfer the powder to an airtight clean container and keep it in a cool dry place.
How to store pudina powder?
After grinding the pudina powder recipe, you can keep it in a clean and dry airtight container. Glass container would be the best. Keep the herb in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Always use a dry spoon for the spice. If you follow all these things, then you can store the spice for 3-4 months.
Ingredients
- 500 grams Mint leaves aka Pudina
Instructions
- Take mint leaves and pluck them from the stems. Then put the mint leaves in a strainer and wash them thoroughly in running water.
- Spread each leaf on kitchen tissue. Then pat the leaves with another kitchen tissue to dry up each mint leaf.
- Now you can follow any of the below methods.
- In microwave: Spread the mint leaves properly in a single layer on a microwavable plate. Make sure each mint leaf has a minimum gap from each other. Then transfer the plate into the microwave and close the door. Run the microwave for 2 minutes and take out the plate.
- On stove top: You can transfer the washed and dried fresh mint leaves into a pan and then dry roast it over low flame for 7-8 minutes until the mint leaves become crispy. Stir it continuously.
- In oven: Line the baking tray either with aluminium foil or parchment paper. Spread the mint leaves in a single layer on the tray and make sure each mint leaf has a minimum gap from the Preheat the oven to 180℉ and then transfer the tray to the middle of the oven for around 2 hours to dehydrate. Keep your eyes after 2 hours. Take the tray out of the oven when the mint leaves will become crisp.
- Sun-dried process: Spread the mint leaves properly in a single layer on plates. Make sure each mint leaf has a minimum gap from each other. Dry them under the sunlight for 2 days until the leaves become crispy.
- Transfer the crispy mint leaves to a plate and allow them to come to room temperature. Then with the help of a clean hand crush the mint leaves.
- Transfer the crushed mint leaves into a jar of a grinder. Close the lid and pulse it to fine dust. Transfer the powder to an airtight clean container and keep it in a cool dry place.
