Masala Biryani

Ingredients

-1 kg Mutton/chicken
-750 g. Basmati rice
-500 g. Potato
-500 g. tomatoes (cut into small pieces)
-250 gr. Yogurt
-1 tsp. Red chili powder
-Salt to taste
-2 Onions (thin slices)
-3tbs. Garlic (crushed -2tsp. Ginger (crushed)
-8-10 green -cardamoms
-4 black cardamoms (bari Iliachi)
-10 cloves
-10 pieces of black pepper
-1 inch cinnamon stick
-1 tsp. Cumin (zeera)
-2 bay leaves
-8-10 dried plumb (allo bahara)
-Oil or ghee
-6 pieces green chilies
-2 tbs. Coriander leaves
-2 tbs. Mint leaves
-few drops kewra
-2-3of Yellow food color

1.Marinate the meat with garlic, ginger, salt, chili powder, garam masala for half an hour.
2. Meanwhile, heat the oil or ghee in a heavy based sauce pan and fry the onions for 5-10 minutes to a golden brown. Remove the onions from the oil and stir into the yogurt. Rub this yogurt all over the marinated chicken cover and put in a cool place for at least an hour.
3. Reheat the oil, add the meat along with the marinade and all of the whole spices, and stirring frequently, fry the meat 5-10 minutes. Add 1\2 cup water, cover and allow to cook over low heat. When the meat is half cooked add potatoes and keep cooking over low heat. While the rice is being prepared.
4.Soak the rice in water for half an hour. In another pan boil the rice with 2-3 tsp. of salt and plenty of water .when the rice are 3\4 cooked drain the water. Add 1\4 cup oil or butter and fluff with a fork to prevent the rice to stick each other. Keep rice to one side.
5. In a large pan place 2 inch layer of rice at the bottom, then a layer of meat, tomatoes, and dried plums on top, repeating this until the meat and rice have been used up. sprinkle the coriander and mint leaves over the top layer of the rice Pour 1\2 cup water and kewra over the rice. Do not stir. Mix the food color with a little water and sprinkle over the rice.
6. over with a tight fitting lid and allow to cook for 20 minutes until the rice and meat are tender.
7. once the dish is cooked, leave it covered for a few minutes. then remove the lid, fluff up the rice with a fork.
8. serve with Raita.

KITCHERI

Ingredients

- 1 1\2 cups rice Pakistani basmati rice
- 1\2 cup moong dal
- 5 cloves
- 1tsp. black pepper
- 1 inch piece cinnamon stick
- 3 large cardamom
- 1tsp. Caraway seeds
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1 small onion sliced thinly
- 1/2 cup ghee or cooking oil

1. Put the rice and dal in a sieve and wash it thoroughly under running cold tap until the water runs clear. Soak in plenty of water for about 2 hours. Drain in a sieve and let it stand for a minute or two.
2. Heat the ghee or oil in the heavy base pan and add the onions, stirring frequently fry to a pale golden color. Add the all spices, fry for 1 minute. Add rice, lentil and salt and level with a spatula.
3. Add enough water to cover the rice by about 1 to 2 inches. ( The amount of water depends on, how mushy the rice you want.)
4. Cover with a tight fitting lid, reduce the heat and allow to cook for about 20 -25 minutes or until rice is very tender and mushy.
Transfer it to a serving dish and add butter to it, butter will melt with the heat of the rice. Serve immediately.

Hyderabadi Biryani

Ingredients

- 2 chickens, skinned and cut into small pieces
- 1 3\4 kg. Basmati rice
- 500 g. Yogurt
- 1 tbsp. Red chili powder
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp. turmeric
- 2 tsp. coriander powder
- 1 tbsp. garam masala
- juice of 1 lemon
- 4 medium onions (thin slices)
- 3tbs. Garlic (crushed)
- 2tsp. Ginger (crushed)
- 10-12 green chilies
- 1 cup fresh coriander leaves
- 1\2 cup fresh mint leaves
- 1\2 cup oil
- 4-6 green chilies
- 2 tbs. Coriander leaves, finely chopped
- few strands of saffron, soaked in two tbsp. of warm water
- few drops kewra
- 2-3of Yellow food color

1.Heat the oil or ghee in a heavy based sauce pan and fry the onions for 8-10 minutes until light brown. Remove the onions from the oil and reserve 1\4 onions for later use.
2. Put the fried onions, garlic, ginger, coriander leaves, mint, green chilies, salt and pepper in a blender or food processor and blend to a paste. Mix this paste with yogurt, garam masala, lemon juice and 2 tbsp. oil. Marinate the chicken with the yogurt mixture for about 6 hours or overnight in a refrigerator. 4.Put the rice in a sieve and wash it thoroughly under a running cold tap until the water runs clear. Soak the rice in plenty of water for half an hour. In a large heavy based pan put plenty of water and add 1 stick cinnamon, 6 cloves, 5 big cardamoms, 8 small cardamoms, 2 bay leaves and salt. Bring it to a rapid boil and add the washed rice. When the rice are 1\4 cooked, drain and keep aside.
5. In a large pan place 1\2 cup of oil at the bottom of a large heavy based pan then place the chicken and all the marinade. Cover the meat with the rice and level it with a spatula. Sprinkle reserved fried onions, chopped coriander, green chilies and saffron on the top of the rice. Mix the food color with a little water and sprinkle over the rice.
6. Cover with a tight fitting lid or cover with a large piece of thick aluminum foil and then place the lid. Allow to cook for 15 minutes on medium heat then reduce the heat to a very low and cook for further 20 to 25 minutes, until the rice and meat are tender.
7. once the dish is cooked, leave it covered for a few minutes. then remove the lid, fluff up the rice with a fork.
8. serve with

Gur Walay chaval

Ingredients

- 225g basmati rice
- 400ml water
- 200g gur (break into small pieces)
-1\4 cup ghee
- 1 tsp. aniseed
- 8 green cardamom seeds,
crushed
- 4 cloves
- 100g blanched almonds, cut into slivers
- 50g unsalted pistachio nuts, cut into slivers
- 25g green raisins
- 1tsp. lemon juice

1. Rinse rice in a sieve under the running water, then soak it in cold water for 30 minutes. Drain.
2. Put water and gur in a pan and bring to boil. Boil for two minutes, then remove from heat and strain.
3. In another heavy based pan heat ghee, add cardamom, aniseed and clove. Stirring all the time, fry these for couple of minutes. Stand well back, in case of spluttering, and add rice along with syrup. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to low.
4. Add almonds, pistachio nuts, green raisins and lemon juice. Stir just once, cover with a tight fitting lid and cook for 20 minutes until syrup is completely absorbed.

Green Pulao

Ingredients

-1 cup Basmati rice
-1 medium onion, chopped
-12oz package frozen peas
-4 cloves
-1 small stick cinnamon
-1 clove garlic(minced): optional
-2 to 3 bay leaves
-2 tbsp oil (more if you like)

This is an easy way to make rice more exciting. Typically, Basmati rice would be the best, the aroma is unbeatable, but use whatever white rice is available.
Heat oil in a deep pan and fry onions till slightly brown. Add cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves and garlic and stir. Add rice and stir for 2 to 3 mins. The rice should be coated with the oil. Add 2 cups water and allow thw pot to come to a boil.
Add peas.Stir, lower heat and simmer covered until the rice is cooked. Let it stand uncovered until extra water evaporates. Serve with

Fish Biryani

Ingredients

- 450g rohu or any other firm white fish fillets
- 1\2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 level tsp cumin seeds
- 1\2 level tsp mustard seeds
- 1 garlic clove,skinned
- 1 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled
- 1 tsp ajowan (carum)
- 3-4 green chilli
- 1\2 level tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp. Red chili powder
- Salt to taste
- 8-10 green -cardamoms
- 4 black cardamoms (bari Iliachi)
- 6 cloves
- 10 pieces of black pepper
- 1 inch cinnamon stick
- 2 bay leaves
- 8-10 dried plumb (allo bahara)
- Oil or ghee
- 6 pieces green chillies
- 2 tbs. Coriander leave

- 2-3of Yellow food color

1.Wash the fish and pat dry. Cut into 1 inch pieces. In a blender grind the garlic ginger and chillies to a fine paste. Mix the paste with salt, chilli powder and ajowan. Smear the fish pieces with spice paste. Set aside for at least 2 hours
2. In the meantime heat the oil in a shallow frying pan, add the cumin and mustard seeds;they should pop and splutter at once. Add the chopped onions and , stirring frequently, fry them to a rich golden colour.Add the chopped tomatoes, still stirring frequently, fry the onions for about 10 minutes until the tomatoes are reduced to a pulp. Add a little water, if necessary, to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottomof the pan. Keep frying until the oil begins to separate.
3. Add the fish and stir well to coat it with the tomato mixture.Reduec the heat to low, cover with a tight fitting lid and cook for 15 minutes until the fish is tender.
Sprinkle with finely chopped coriander.Keep warm. 4.Soak the rice in water for half an hour.In another pan boil the rice with 2-3 tsp. of salt and plenty of water .when the rice are 3\4 cooked drain the water. Add 1\4 cup oil or butter and fluf with a fork to prevent the rice to stick each other. Keep rice to one side.
5. In a large pan place 2 inch layer of rice at the bottom, then a layer of fish mixture and dried plums on top,repeating this until the fish and rice have been used up. sprinkle the coriander and mint leaves over the top layer of the rice Pour 1\2 cup water and seeds of cardamom over the rice. Do not stir. Mix the food colour with a little water and sprinkle over the rice.
6. cover with a tight fitting lid and allow to cook for 20 minutes until the rice are cooked.
7. once the dish is cooked, leave it covered for a few minutes. then remove the lid, fluff up the rice with a fork.
8. serve with Raita.

Coconut Rice

Ingredients

- Half a coconut,grated
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups basmati rice
- 4 cloves
- 1 stick of cinnamon
- 4 cardamoms
- Salt,to taste
- 3-5 tbsp ghee
- A pinch of turmeric diluted in 1 tbsp of coconut milk

1.Grind the grated coconut and a little hot water and squeeze through a muslin clothes to extract milk.Repeat the process two more times until you have 2 cups of coconut milk Keep it aside.
2. In a deep pressure cooker, fry the whole spices and rice in ghee until the rice begins to stick to the pan.
3. Add water and coconut milk and stir well. Add salt to taste and the diluted turmeric. Cook under pressure for 5 minutes.

Note:Serve hot garnished with deep-fried onion slices.

Chicken Pulao

Ingredients

- Chicken cut into 8 pcs.
- 5 cloves
-1 tsp black pepper
- 1 cinnamon stick 1"
- coriander seeds 1 tsp.
- large cardamom 4-5
- Caraway seeds 1 tsp.
- salt 2 tsp.
- small onion cut into pieces
- water 4 cups.
- ginger 2 inch cut into pieces
- Pakistani basmati rice 450gm
-
Masala
- 1/2 cup ghee or cooking oil
- 1 large onion skinned and finely chopped.
- 1 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped.
- garlic clove, skinned and chopped

This is an easy way to make rice more exciting. Typically, Pakistani Basmati rice would be the best, the aroma is unbeatable, but use whatever white rice is available.
Wash chicken thoroughly under cold water tap. Place the meat, spice, salt, water, onion and ginger in a large heavy based sauce pan.
Bring to boil and skim off any scum that rises to the top. Reduce the heat, cover and allow to boil gently for 10 minutes until the meat is tender.
Meanwhile, put the rice in a sieve and wash it thoroughly under running cold tap until the water runs clear. Soak in plenty of water for 30 minutes. Drain in a sieve and let it stand for a minute or two.
Strain the meat and the spices. Reserve the stock. Discard the spices by taking out the meat pieces from it.

MASALA
Heat the ghee or oil in the heavy base pan and add the onion, stir frequently.
Fry to a pale golden color. Add the drained meat, ginger and garlic. Stirring frequently, fry this over medium heat for 5 to ten minutes until the meat turns a rich golden color.
While the meat is cooking, measure the stock, it should be 3 1/2 cups. If it is less add more water to make it to required. Boil the stock and place the drain rice in it and parboil for 4 minutes.
Carefully add the browned meat mixture into the rice and stir gently to mix all the ingredients. Cover with a tight fitting lid, reduce the heat and allow to cook for another 7 - 10 minutes until rice is tender.
Fluff up the rice with a fork, then transfer it into to a heated serving dish.
Serve with

Afghani Briyani

Ingredients

- 1 kg. lamb meat on the bone, cut into large pieces.
- 5 cloves
- 1large cinnamon stick
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1tbsp. ginger paste
- 1 tbsp. garlic paste
- 8 cups water
- 3 cups good quality saila rice
- 3/4 cup cooking oil
- 1 large onion skinned and thinly sliced
- 1 inch piece cinnamon stick
- 6 cloves
- 8-10 green cardamoms
- 1 tsp. cumin
- 3-4 carrots, peeled and grated
- 1\2 cup green raisins
- 1\2 cup pine nuts

1. Wash meat thoroughly under cold water tap. Place the meat, cinnamon, cloves, salt, water, garlic and ginger in a large heavy based sauce pan. Bring to boil and skim off any scum that rises to the top. Reduce the heat, cover and allow to boil gently for 40 to 45 minutes until the meat is tender.
2. Meanwhile, put the rice in a sieve and wash it thoroughly under running cold tap until the water runs clear. Soak in plenty of water for 11\2 hours. Drain in a sieve and let it stand for a minute or two.
3. Fry the nuts, raisins and carrots separately in 2 tablespoons of oil in a small frying pan. keep aside.
2. Heat oil in a large heavy based pan, add the onion and while stirring frequently fry for 3-5 minutes. Add cinnamon stick, cloves, green cardamoms, cumin, meat and 6 cups of stock, add water if necessary to make 6 cups. Bring to boil and add the rice to it. Carefully stir once. Cover and reduce the heat to medium and cook for 7-10 minutes. Gently stir the rice. (Do not stir to hard otherwise the rice will break.) Put a layer of carrot, raisins and pine nuts on the top of the rice. Cover with a tight fitting lid, reduce the heat to very low and allow to cook for another 7 - 10 minutes until rice is tender.
Fluff up the rice with a fork, then transfer it into to a heated serving dish.
Serve with