Friday, January 10, 2014

Quick Prawns Biriyani


I made it in a pressure cooker and so named it quick Biriyani.....A super easy main course dish IF - you have cleaned , deveined prawns.
Have heard that prawns shouldn't be washed much,  a quick water  rinse after devening is just required to keep'em flavor packed.
Deveining itself is a time consuming work for me, which I think,  if done regularly helps in gaining "patience"

Know something

Naming a dish " Quick " and then putting up quotes regarding "Patience" is funny :) I know
This Dish is real quick if you have cleaned Prawns :) 

Anyways I have lot of time when my NA goes to school twice a week , that's when my pending works are finished but sometimes I enjoy sitting " idle " the whole day and  by evening realize that  I haven't done anything and then I run do do my home - works.

Ingredients for this easy Prawns Biriyani.

Prawns - 3/4 kg before cleaning.
Basmathi Rice - 2 cups
Onion - 1 medium chopped or use Small onions - 20 no's crushed  
Green chili's - 2 no's 
Garlic - 2 table spoon crushed 
Ginger - 1 table spoon crushed
Tomato's - 2 medium size chopped
Chili powder - 1 table spoon (or less)
Coriander Powder - 2 table spoon 
Turmeric Powder - 1 and half tsp.
Garam Masala powder - 1 tsp ( or use store bought fish Masala powder if you have) 
Mint leaves - a few leaves finely chopped (Optional)
Cilantro/Coriander leaves - 1/4 cup finely chopped
Juice of 1 lime 
Salt to taste 
Oil - 3 table spoon. (I used vegetable oil , may use ghee/clarified butter too ) 




Method 

*Soak cleaned rice for half an hour in water.
* Heat oil in a pressure cooker , add in the crushed ginger , garlic and the green chili's , saute for a few minutes and then add in the chopped onion, saute till the onion looks golden brown.
*Add half of the tomato's chopped and saute well , add in all the powder's (turmeric powder, coriander powder, chili powder , masala/or fish masala powder) , cook stirring constantly for a few seconds till the oil separates.
*Add the soaked rice and stir for a few minutes (5 minutes in low heat) , then add in the prawns and the finely chopped leaves(mint if using and cilantro/coriander leaves) , add salt and lime juice.
* Pour Water , little less than double the amount of rice taken ( took 3 and 3/4rth cup of water for 2 glass of rice) and the rest of the chopped tomato's . stir well and close the lid.
* Cook till one whistle is heard and remove from stove , to a cooler place , which helps to release the pressure soon. I used a "cold water release method"  ( just to run cold water on to the pressure cooker to help open it soon) 


* Open and mix everything well.Serve HOT with salad. 


* Some people use curd, it will taste better for sure, I substituted it with lime juice as from childhood am advised not to mix milk or curd with fish especially Prawns...though I think curd is one of the key ingredient in any Biriyani.Also I avoid Raita as side dish here because of the same reason.
This biriyani is always served with sarlas (Kerala Onion salad - a mixture of onion and green chili's with vinegar or lime juice added to it).
Enjoy 

My patience for the whole day was used up cleaning the fish , couldn't save a little to take pic's while cooking :(  


Notes : I used regular meat masala powder that I use for meat dishes , may use whole spices too or else fish masala powder.
          : Fry half of the prawns here after marinating  with a little turmeric powder , chili powder and vinegar  , arrange these fried prawn on top or mix with the Biriyani while serving , makes the dish extra flavorful.
         
Cheers
TN




2 comments:

  1. Love the look...hope it was equally delicious

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yeaa it tastes good too ....an easy main course within no time....must try this one :)

    ReplyDelete