Thursday, January 19, 2012

Biryani - Plain/Chicken/Mutton/Prawn/Vegetables

Biryani is considered  a very complicated dish, however it actually is one of the simplest dishes to make according to me. Mom dishes out lip smacking biryanis, there are a number of ways to make biryani and this is one version of it that i make too.


Ingredients
Onion 2 medium sliced
Tomatoes 2 nos diced
Garlic Paste 1 tsp
Ginger Paste 1tsp
Green Chillies 3 nos
Garam Masala 1/2 tsp
Chilli Powder 1/2 tsp or 1 tsp (depending on hotness level)
Coriander Powder 1/4 tsp ( can be avoided too)
Pudhina (mint)  chopped 1/4 cup
Oil 1/4 cup
Curd 2 tsp
Lemon 1/2
Raw Rice 1.5 cups (basmati preferred)

Water 3 cups
(Rice to water ration for raw rice 1:2 for basmati 1:1.5)
Star anise 1 nos
Cinnamon stick 1 nos
Dried Bayleaf 1/2 piece
Cloves 2-3 nos
Salt to taste

Making the Biryani
Wash the rice thoroughly and soak it in water for atleast  20 mins. Ideally soak the rice first and start your prep.
Heat oil in a pressure cooker, add star anise, cinnamon, bayleaf, cloves and fry till the start release their fragrance, add the garam masal and saute. Now add whole green chillies, choped mint and fry till chillies change color, now add the sliced onions and cook until translucent. Add ginger and garlic paste and cook until the raw smell goes away. Now add the tomatoes and cook further for 3-4 mins till the tomato starts to mush a bit. Now add the chilli powder and coriander powder, and mix well.  When the oil starts to separate add curd and mix well and cook for about a minute. Now, add rice after draining it thorougly, mix well and cook for atleast 1-2 mins then add  3 cups of water,  add salt. Mix well and put the lid on, when the steam starts to come out as a proper stream put the pressure weight on. Wait for 2 whistles, now turn the heat off, let the steam out, open carefully and mix well. Put the lid back on with the weight, now place the cooker over the stove with a tawa or griddle, this is done so that the rice doesn't get burnt and stuck to the bottom of the cooker. As they say in tamil, Adi pudikama irukka . Let it sit for 10-15 mins, check again now the rices will be separate and not stuck together. Squeeze half lemon juice and mix well, let it cool a bit for the tastes to blend.  Serve with soft boiled gooey egg and raitha.


For Chicken or Mutton Biryani
Marinate Chicken/Biryani with  chillipowder, Garam masala, curd, salt, 1/2 tsp of ginger and garlic paste. Let it rest for 30 mins, in the above preparation add the marinated mutton/chicken befored adidng the curd. Fry well till the oil starts to separate.

For Prawn Biryani:
Add the prawns before adding the curd

Vegetable Biryani

Add vegetables after adding the tomatoes.

PS: If you like what i am doing, please share. Its just a mouse click and it will be an added encouragement as well.

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