Here is abiryaniinspired from the combined experiences of 3biryanis.I read the article tiltled “Able biryani ” from Vanitha ( April 15-30, 2009 - Cover featuring Menaka and Keerthi ).
During our numerous trips to Kerala, I developed fondness for biryani from 2 restaurants in Cherthala on Cochin to Alleppey Highway. They are Apsara Hotel at Bye-pass junction, Cherthala - famous for its quality. The other restaurant being an old one known as “Gandhi’s restaurant” in Cherthala - Alleppey route. I requested the recipes of biriyani ’s from these eateries and they were kind enough to give me some good tips.
The great success of this biryani was evident from the content looks / smiles on my husband’s and kid’s face after having the biryani. Husband is my best critic and never misses an opportunity to point out a short coming ( as he always pursue perfection). But this time he offered no suggestion - which means this biryani was really nice.
Thisbiryaniis without food color and MSG (ajinomoto)Here’s the recipeYou need750 g chicken ( wash and drained )
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon chilli powder
Marinate salt, turmeric powder and chilli powder with chicken pieces and keep aside for one hour.
Other ingredients forbiryanimasala:1/2 cup cooking oil for frying chicken pieces
5 onions, finely sliced
10 cloves garlic, crushed
2 - inch piece ginger , crushed
5 green chillies, slit lengthwise
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 /2 teaspoon chilli powder
1 teaspoon garammasala powder
2 tomatoes, chopped finely
1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander leaves
Salt to taste
For rice :3 cups basmati rice ( soak rice in water for half an hour )
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ghee
Water for cooking rice
Spices :3 cardamom, crushed
5 cloves ( whole )
3 cinnamon sticks ( whole )
3 star anise ( whole )
For garnishing :1 tablespoon ghee
1 tablespoon cashew nuts ( split )
1 tablespoon raisins
250 gm pineapple diced to cubes
1/2 cupmaida
1/4 cup water for mixing( mix water andmaidatogether and make a soft dough for sealingbiryanipot )
Raita( May use other options like Dates chutney etc)1 cup fresh curd
2 onions, finely chopped
1 tomato , finely chopped
Salt to taste
Mix all the ingredients together and serve.Method1, Heat oil in a kadai and fry marinated chicken pieces till golden color and keep aside ( fry chicken pieces in batches ) .
2, Add cardamom and whole spices. Fry for 2-3 minutes and add finely sliced onions , crushed ginger, garlic and green chilli. Fry till fragrant. Add chopped coriander- mint leaves , turmeric powder, chilli powder, garammasala, salt to taste and tomatoes. Stir continuously . Fry for 5 - 8 minutes or till the gravy thickens and oil leaves from the sides.
3, Cook rice in water along with salt and ghee . Drained well and keep aside. ( Rice should be overcooked ).
4, Heat 1 tablespoon ghee in a frying pan. Shallow fry cashew nuts and raisins till golden color.
Final dum preparationIn a heavy - bottomed vessel or biryani pot , spread a layer of biryanimasala, half portion of cooked rice, half portion of fried chicken pieces, half portion of pineapple. Make 2 layers with cooked rice, pineapple, fried chicken pieces, biryanimasala and fried cashew nuts and raisins.Cover with tight lid. Seal with maida dough on the edges of the lid. Heat a heavy - bottomed iron kadai. Keep biryani pot over it. Cook on a low heat for 30 - 40 minutes. You can find a color change in the maida seal. Open the seal carefully. Serve with raita / pappadam / pickle.
Here is abiryaniinspired from the combined experiences of 3biryanis.
Thisbiryaniis without food color and MSG (ajinomoto)
Here’s the recipe
You need
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon chilli powder
Other ingredients forbiryanimasala:
5 onions, finely sliced
10 cloves garlic, crushed
2 - inch piece ginger , crushed
5 green chillies, slit lengthwise
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 /2 teaspoon chilli powder
1 teaspoon garammasala powder
1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander leaves
For rice :
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ghee
Water for cooking rice
Spices :
5 cloves ( whole )
3 cinnamon sticks ( whole )
3 star anise ( whole )
For garnishing :
1 tablespoon cashew nuts ( split )
1 tablespoon raisins
1/2 cupmaida
1/4 cup water for mixing( mix water andmaidatogether and make a soft dough for sealingbiryanipot )
Raita( May use other options like Dates chutney etc)
2 onions, finely chopped
1 tomato , finely chopped
Salt to taste
Mix all the ingredients together and serve.
Method
2, Add cardamom and whole spices. Fry for 2-3 minutes and add finely sliced onions , crushed ginger, garlic and green chilli. Fry till fragrant. Add chopped coriander- mint leaves , turmeric powder, chilli powder, garammasala, salt to taste and tomatoes. Stir continuously . Fry for 5 - 8 minutes or till the gravy thickens and oil leaves from the sides.
4, Heat 1 tablespoon ghee in a frying pan. Shallow fry cashew nuts and raisins till golden color.
Final dum preparation