Thursday, January 28, 2010

Prawn Biryani

I was talking to my sister over the phone last weekend and she was trying to make my mom furious by saying that I have more mention about my MIL in my blog than her. She was specifically referring to my mom's biryani recipe and was asking why I didn't post that yet. All this in front of my mom. My sis was having a good laugh and enjoying the whole scene. I don't think she was able to agitate Mamma (at least I hope so :-) ). Anyways this conversation forced me to make the Biryani following my mom's recipe.  Her recipe is that of a "Pakaa" Biryani. "Pakaa" meaning cooked. So Rice and Chicken are prepared separate and then layered. The other version of Biryani is "Kacha" biryani. "Kacha" meaning uncooked where all the ingredients are cooked together. 


For Rice:

Rice                       - 2 1/2 cups
Oil                          - 2 tbsp
Onion                     - 1/2
Ginger Garlic Paste - 1 tbsp
Salt                        - to taste
Water                    - 5 cups
Ghee                     - 2 tbsp

1. Soak the rice in water for 30 minutes. Basmati rice is commonly used. I used Jeera rice this time for a change.
2. Heat oil in a pan and saute the sliced onions until they turn transparent.
3. Add ginger garlic paste and saute until the raw smell is gone.
4. Add water and enough salt and let it boil.
5. Add soaked and drained rice to the boiling water.
6. Also add the ghee and let the rice cook.

For Prawn Masala:

Oil                          - 21/2 tbsp
Prawn                     - 1 1/2 lb 
Yogurt                   - 3/4 cup
Onion                     - 1 1/2
Ginger Garlic Paste - 2 1/2 tbsp
Green Chilly            - 3
Small Onions           - 10
Turmeric powder      - 1/4 tsp
Chilly powder           - 1 1/2 tbsp
Garam Masala          - 1 tbsp
Salt                         - to taste
Water                      - 3/4 cup

1. Mix the prawns and yogurt with enough salt and keep aside for at least 30 minutes.
2. Heat oil in a pan and saute the sliced onions until they turn transparent.
3. Add ginger garlic paste and saute until the raw smell is gone.
4. Add the slit green chilly and smashed small onions to this and saute for a minute.
5. Add turmeric, chilly powder and garam masala to this and saute for another minute.
6. To this add the prawns, salt and water and let is cook.
7. Once the gravy starts becoming thick, turn off the stove.

To Garnish:

Ghee                        - 1/2 tbsp
Raisins                     - a handful
Cashews                   - a handful

Layering:

1. Make alternate layers of the rice and prawn masala in an oven proof pan.
2. Close it with an aluminium foil and bake in a 300 Degree pre-heated oven for 15 minutes.
3. In a pan, heat ghee and saute the raisins and cashews until raisins becomes plump.
4. Garnish the biryani with the raisins and cashews.


This is a simple and quick recipe for delicious biryani. You could replace the prawns with chicken and make chicken biryani as well.

16 comments:

  1. Nice recipe,surely looks delicious too....

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  2. My all time favorite..looks fabulous...tempting clicks!

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  3. Biriyani looks yummy...so ur mom happy now???

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  4. hehe..guess your mom is happy now :-) I never get tired of biryani..could have it at any time ...prawn biryani is my hubby's fav and this looks wonderful !

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  5. oh wow!!! That looks so delicious..I know it will taste too good since its Mom's recipe.. yummy yumm

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  6. wow that looks delicious , first time here loved ur blog.

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  7. Looks awesome I need to do a biriyani like how my mom does too. I guess we all end up doing like what our MIL's do cos we want to impress our husbands or more often just get them to eat it and say something good :) Sorry for making assumptions here I am just saying my plight...Thanks to your mom for a wonderful recipe

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  8. Very yummy looking indeed!

    And your sister is a little naughty for vexing you and your mother, though I would tease my brother that way, given the opportunity, grins.

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  9. I am a die hard fan of biriyani, this is very tempting picture...makes me hungry already:):)

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  10. Fatima,
    Thanks to your sister we could share this version of briyani. Mouthwatering ...
    Deepa
    http://hamareerasoi.blogspot.com/

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  11. This is my favorite... Looks awesome.
    http://ladiesspecialadukkala.blogspot.com

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  12. wow...looks delicious...this is one of my fav...

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