Shrimp (Prawns) Biriyani

Ingredients:

Shrimps/Prawns (Peeled)   – 300gm

Basmati Rice – 2.5 cups

Green Chillies – 6 nos.

Tomatoes – 6 nos.

Shallots (Small Onions) – 3/4th cup

Mint leaves (chopped) – 1 tbsp

coriander leaves (chopped) – 1 tbsp

ginger garlic paste – 3 tsp

coconut milk – 2 cups

Lemon -1

oil – 1/2 cup

Ghee – 1/4 cup

Salt – 2 tsp

Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp

Cinnamon stick – 1

Cloves – 3

Cardamom – 1

Bay leaf – 1

Fennel seeds – 1 tsp

For Shrimp Marinade

Chilli powder – 1 tsp

Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp

Pepper powder – 1 tsp

salt – 1/2 tsp

lemon drops

Method:

• Clean the shrimp and apply the marinade over shrimp and keep it aside for 20 mins.
• Pour water in a vessel and add cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, bay leaves and fennel seeds and set aside for 1 hour.
• Soak Basmati rice in water for 30 minutes.
• Hand pound the shallots and green chillies. If this is not possible chop them finely. Please avoid using the mixer.
• Make a pulp out of the tomatoes in a mixer.
• Heat oil in a pressure cooker.
• Filter out the spices soaked in water and drain the water. Add these spices to the hot oil.
• After this mixture gets fried and the aroma comes out, add pounded shallots, green chillies, mint and coriander leaves and sauté.
• Now add ghee and coat all the ingredients well.
• Add ginger garlic paste and sauté until the raw smell fades away.
• Now add the marinated shrimp and mix well so that the shrimp gets coated with the masala.
• Cook for 2 minutes with the lid closed upside down. Check in intervals and saute.
• Pour in the tomato pulp, coconut milk.
• Add salt to taste and bring the whole mixture to a boil.
• When this reaches bubble boiling stage, add rice.
• Add a teaspoon of lemon juice and mix well.
• Close the lid and cook in medium to low flame for 3 whistles.

Note:

For 2.5 cups of rice, the liquid measurement should be 5 cups to get the perfectly cooked Biriyani with rice being neither sticky nor being too dry. This liquid measure includes tomato pulp, coconut milk and if necessary extra water.