Plain Biryani

What is a festive food? Its Biryani! For a long time I wanted to do some justice to my blog and this is it!
Actually biryani is a long process.I have already posted an oven baked biryani.It takes nearly 3 hrs. But this one is easy and simple. Just boil a few eggs,roast it on a pan and add it to the plain biryani. A potato fry with raita will also do good.Actually My daughter likes it colorful, so I added 2 tsps of kashmiri chilli powder.

Give it a try during the weekend!

Plain Biryani

Ingredients

Basmati rice- 2 cups
onion - 2 medium sliced
tomato- 1 sliced
cloves- 2
cinnamon stick- 1"
bay leaves-2
green chillies- slit 2
curd 1/4 cup
lemon juice- 1tbsp
ginger garlic - 1 tbsp
red chilli powder- 1 tsp
Biryani masala - 2 tsp
coriander powder- 1 tbsp
 mint leaves-  a handful
coriander leaves- a handful
oil- 3 tbsp
salt to taste

Method:

Wash and soak Basmati rice for 20 min.
Heat oil in heavy bottomed vessel.When hot add bay leaves, cloves and cinnamon stick.
Now add onions, saute for few minutes.
Add ginger garlic paste and saute well.
Now add tomatoes and saute until soft.
Now add all the masalas and saute for 2-3 min.
Add curd and check for salt.
Add mint leaves,coriander leaves and lemon juice.
Now add 4 cups of water along with rice.
Let it boil.Now simmer the heat ,cover and cook for 15 min.
Put off the stove and leave it undisturbed for 1 hr.
Garnish it with fried cashews and raisins.
Fluff it with a fork not with laddle.

Enjoy your Sunday Lunch!

Pappas (tiger prawns in coconut milk)

This is also one of the attractions during Onam festive season.

prawns-1lb
oil- 4tbsp
mustard seeds- 14/tsp
fenugreek seeds- 6
onion- 1 large finely chopped

ginger-1 tsp grated
garlic - 5 cloves chopped
green chillies- 3 chopped
salt- 1tsp
coconut milk- 1/2 cup
curry leaves- 10
tamarind/lime juice-1 1/2 tbsp

To grind:
coriander seeds- 1tbsp
red chillies-6
peppercorns-1/2tsp

Method:
Grind coriander, red chillies and peppercorns into a fine paste .
Cook prawns until done in some water.(6 minutes).

Heat oil in a pan add mustard seeds.
Now add fenugreek seeds,onion, ginger, garlic and green chillies.
Fry until onions are light brown.(10/minutes).

Add ground paste and saute for 1-2 minutes. Add prawns and salt.
Now add coconut milk, curry leaves and cook on medium heat for 6 minutes.
Stir in tamarind juice and and boil for a minute.
Remove from heat and serve with plain rice.