I have been trying lots of combinations for making good biriyani from the day I got married, but it has finally worked out only now :) So I thought I better "document" the same for future reference :p
There are 2 variations in this recipe:
Recipe 1: Less spicy, Ideal for "Iyer aathu Vegetable biriyani" I should say :)
Ingredients:
- Vegetables (Potato, Beans, Carrot, Peas, Cauliflower. Cabbage doesnt blend with this!!)
- Onions - 2, Chopped finely
- Tomato - 1, Chopped finely
- Basmathi Rice (Extra Long is YUMMMMMM) - 2 tumblers
- Green Chillies - 5
- Ginger and Garlic - make it into a paste.
- Cardamom - 3
- Cinnamon (Pattai) - a little (really dunno how to measure it!!)
- Cloves (Lavangam) - 4
- Bay leaf - 2 to 3
- Kasa kasa - a little
- Jeera and saunf (soombu) - a little (Without Saunf the taste doesnt come!!)
- Salt - to taste
- Coconut milk - 1 tumbler minimum
- Cashew nuts - optional though
- Paneer - optional
- Fresh corriander leaves
- Ghee
- Cooking Oil
Preparation:
- Soak the basmati rice in water for atleast 20 mins.
- In a kadai, add 3 tablespoons of ghee. Add the cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, kasa kasa, jeera, saunf, ginger and garlic. (Readymade ginger and garlic paste may also be added, but it might not taste as good as fresh ginger and garlic!!) Saute well.
- Add the chopped onions and green chillies and fry nicely till it becomes golden brown. (Actually the smell tells whether it is cooked fully or not :) )
- Add little bit of cooking oil to this and add all the vegetables. Saute/Stir for about 5 mins.
- Add the chopped tomatoes and stir.
- To this, add salt and fry the same. Remember the salt level should be for the vegetables and the rice that you are going to add.
- Once the vegetables are half cooked, add the soaked rice (without the water, ofcourse) and fry. Add 2 more tablespoons of ghee.
- Saute this well till all the water from the rice is dried and the rice is nicely fried in the ghee and the vegetables. (If there is water content to this mixture, then the vegetable biriyani rice will stick together and will not be good :( )
- Add coconut milk and water to this. The quantity of the coconut milk and water should be 3 and half cups for 2 cups of basmati rice.
- Pressure cook until 2 whistles or move the full content to the electric rice cooker to cook the same :) (I use the electric rice cooked to cook the same)
- After the biriyani is cooked, add corriander leaves, fried cashew and fried panner for garnishing :) (Remember to add salt to the panner when you fry it)
Recipe 2: Spicy Biriyani :)
Ingredients:
- Vegetables
- 2 medium to large Onions (thinly sliced)
- 5 Green Chillies (more or less may be used depending on spice preferance)
- Fried Cashewnuts (optional)
- Basmathi Rice - 2 tumblers
- Fresh corriander leaves and Fresh Mint Leaves
- 5 Cloves
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks
- 4 Bay Leaves
- 5 Small Cardamoms
- 5 strands Saffron
- 2 tsp. Garlic Paste
- 2 tsp. Ginger Paste
- 1 tsp. Red Chilli Powder
- Salt
- 2 tsp. Tomato Ketchup
- 1 cup of Coconut Milk
- 1 cup of Thick Curd
- 4 tbsp. Butter (Ghee) or Cooking Oil
Preparation:
- Take the coriander/cilantro leaves, fresh mint and green chillies and grind in a grinder to a paste (add a little water if necessary).
- Heat the clarified butter or oil in a kadai. Add in all of the whole spices and mix well.
- Add in the sliced onions and fry until slightly golden brown.
- Add in the ginger paste and garlic paste and saute well.
- Add in the vegetables and stir for about 5 minutes.
- Add in the paste of fresh coriander, fresh mint and green chilles. Saute for about 3 minutes .
- Add the coconut milk and water (the quantity of the coconut milk and water should be 3 and half cups for 2 cups of basmati rice).
- Add the tomato ketchup and curd and mix well.
- Add in the red chilli powder and salt and mix well.
- Once the vegetables are half cooked, add the soaked rice and fry. Add 2 more tablespoons of ghee.
- Saute this well till all the water from the rice is dried and the rice is nicely fried in the ghee and the vegetables.
- Pressure cook until 2 whistles or move the full content to the electric rice cooker to cook the same :)
- Finally add the saffron strands and fried cashew nuts before serving.
Hot hot biriyani is ready :) Serve with raitha and it is yummmmmmmmmm :D
