wellhealthorganic.com Biryani Rice: Biryani Rice, also known as biryani chawal, presents itself as a delicately fragrant rice dish that perfectly complements any rich vegetarian curry, raita, or lentil dish (dal).
Biryani Rice
- Preparation Time: 20 minutes
- Cooking Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Cuisine: North Indian
- Course: Main Course
- Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
Ingredients:
Main ingredients:
- 1 cup basmati rice (200 grams)
- 1.5 to 1.75 cups water (adjust as required)
- 2 tablespoons oil (neutral flavored) or ghee (clarified butter)
- 1 tej patta (Indian bay leaf), medium-sized
- 3 to 4 cloves
- 4 to 5 black peppercorns
- 1 star anise (small-sized) – optional
- 1-inch cinnamon stick
- 3 to 4 green cardamoms
- 2 to 3 strands of mace
- ½ teaspoon caraway seeds
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste or 3 to 4 garlic cloves + 1-inch ginger – crushed
- 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves (cilantro)
- 1 tablespoon chopped mint leaves
- 18 to 20 saffron strands
- 5 to 6 drops lemon juice
- Salt to taste
For garnish:
- ⅓ cup thinly sliced onions
- 10 to 12 cashews
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped mint leaves or coriander leaves
Also Read: Falooda
Instructions:
Soaking Rice:
- Rinse the basmati rice thoroughly in water.
- Soak the basmati rice in water for 20 to 30 minutes. Later, drain the water and set aside the soaked rice grains.
Sautéing Spices, Herbs, and Rice:
- Heat oil or ghee in a 3-liter pressure cooker.
- Add caraway seeds and whole spices, sauté until fragrant.
- Incorporate ginger-garlic paste, chopped coriander, and mint leaves. Sauté until the raw aroma diminishes.
- Add soaked rice and saffron strands. Stir gently.
- Pour in 1.5 to 1.75 cups water, lemon juice, and salt. Mix well.
Cooking Biryani Rice:
- Pressure cook for 1 to 2 whistles or 6 to 7 minutes. Adjust cooking time based on the size of your pressure cooker.
- Allow the pressure to release naturally before opening the lid.
- If cooking in a pan, cover tightly and cook until rice grains are tender and water is absorbed. Ensure grains remain separate.
Preparing Garnish:
- While rice is cooking, heat oil in a frying pan. Sauté onions until golden, adding a pinch of salt for quicker browning.
- Drain caramelized onions on kitchen paper.
- In the same pan, roast cashews until golden.
Serving:
- Garnish Biryani Rice with fried onions, cashews, and chopped mint or coriander leaves.
- Serve with raita, vegetarian curry, or dal.
Notes:
Ingredient Notes and Swaps:
- Always use basmati rice for authentic flavor and texture. Aged basmati is preferable.
- Whole spices contribute to the dish’s aroma, but you can adjust based on availability.
- Ghee adds richness, but oil works as a vegetarian substitute.
- Experiment with different nuts or omit them entirely.
- Saffron adds color and aroma; turmeric or rose water can be substitutes.
Also Read: Garlic Bread
Cooking Notes:
- Adjust water quantity based on rice variety and age.
- Soaking rice reduces cooking time and ensures fluffier grains.
- Rinse rice thoroughly to prevent stickiness.
- For Instant Pot method, adjust pressure cooking time accordingly.
- When cooking in a pan, monitor water level and adjust as needed.