Friday, March 2, 2012

The bachelor biriyani


                   Well, the name may attract few bachelors who might not have to be disappointed. I didn’t see this recipe anywhere and one day, while in a hurry, I cooked this and luckily enough, it turned out to be a tasty dish. The taste was similar to that of Biriyani, just simpler.  You can cook this while you want to eat something spicy and don’t know the fancy recipes, or are running out of time or want to have an easy dish.  I normally keep cooking this during my exam days and this has turned out to be a life saver, after Maggi :) .
     
No. of servings: 3
Ingredients:
Rice – 3 cups
Chopped vegetables (Cauliflower, beans, capsicum, carrot, peas potato) – 2 cups
Tomato puree – 1.5 cup
Curd/yoghurt – 4 tablespoons
Oil/Butter (As required for frying vegetables)
Coriander Powder- 3 teaspoons
Chilly powder- 2 teaspoons
Turmeric powder- 1 teaspoon
Dry whole spices (Star anise, Mace, Bay leaves, Cardamom, Cloves, Cinnamon)
Onions- 3 large, sliced
Ginger garlic paste- 1 tablespoon
Water- 6 cups
Salt- As per your taste
Coriander and mint leaves for flavour

Method:
Take a pressure cooker and heat oil in it. Keep the ingredients ready beforehand. This is what I forget to do all the time which causes me to rush around. But, I am learning this. Better you too do that. 






                           Put all the whole spices in the hot oil. Simmer for 5 seconds and add onions. Fry them for 3 minutes and add ginger garlic paste to it. 
Fry till they turn beautifully golden brown. Now, add all the powdered spices (coriander, chilly, turmeric). Immediately after that, pour the tomato puree. Simmer for 2 minutes on medium flame and then add the curd.

                            Let the tomato to get cooked until oil oozes out from it. Now, add the vegetables, fry for some time and add rice. 

Mix nicely so that all the spices get mixed with the rice. Fry it till the rice starts getting slightly coloured. Keep mixing vigorously all the while. 
                                   Finally pour down all the water and close the lid of the pressure cooker. If you like half-cooked rice, add 5 cups of water instead of 6 cups. Keep the gas at lowest flame and allow for 2 whistles. Now, turn off the gas and leave till the pressure cooker lets out all the gas. 

                                     Now, cut coriander leaves and mint leaves and spread it on the top of the rice. Close the lid and serve after 5 minutes with curd raita or any other side gravy.