Prawn Biryani

Prawn Biryani is something that we dont make that often because my husband (lets call him J) thinks that prawns smell if not cooked correctly (prawn tempura he loves) and he thinks if its cooked in a gravy or in rice it would smell fishy.

 So usually its either chicken or mutton biryani.

But this week, we planned on making this just to avoid the same old, same old.

This turned out so good, that i think We'd be making it a lot more now !

For the recipe, you'll need:

(For The Marination)

1/2 kg Prawns

juice of 1 Lemon

1 tsp of Red Chili Powder

1 tsp of Ginger Garlic Paste

(For The Rice)

3/4 kg of Rice

1/2 tsp Cumin

a few Cloves

a few Whole Black Pepper

1-2 Black cardamom

1 stick of Cinnamon

(For the Masala)

2 Onions, sliced

1/2 tsp Cloves

1/2 tsp Whole Black Pepper

3-4 Black Cardamom

2 sticks of Cinnamon

1 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste

Half bunch Coriander, chopped

1/2 bunch of Mint

3 Tomatoes, chopped

5-6 Green Chilies, chopped

 1/2 cup of Yogurt

Lemon sliced (optional)

Soak rice for 20 minutes. 

Boil Rice with Cumin, Clove, Whole black pepper, Cinnamon, Black cardamom and Salt till it is 2/3rd done.

Drain and keep aside.

Meanwhile make the masala.

Marinate prawns in Red Chili Powder, Ginger Garlic paste and Lemon juice for about an hour.

Heat oil, add cloves, whole black pepper, cinnamon and black cardamom. cook for 30 seconds till fragrant.

Add mint and coriander. Cook for a minute.

Add sliced onions, cook till light brown. Than add ginger garlic paste, cook for a minute.

Add Tomatoes, Green Chilies, Red chili powder, Coriander powder, Salt and Turmeric. Cook till tomatoes are cooked and the oil seperates.

Add Prawns...

and yogurt together.

 Cook for 3-4 minutes maximum. You dont want to overcook the prawns.

Add sliced lemon at the end.

In the same pot that you cooked the rice, add half the cooked prawn masala, than half the rice, than all the masala, and all the rice as well.

Add Cumin on top, Saffron soaked in warm milk, mint and fried onions.

Put on dam for 10-15 minutes on very low flame.

Serve with vegetable raita.

Enjoy !

Aloo Gosht {Meat and Potato Gravy}

Hi everyone !! 

Its been a long time since i've posted anything here, I'm so sorry about that (But loads and loads of pictures in this post !)

Last few months have been quite hectic. I completed my housejob in November, and immersed myself in wedding preparations.

Got married in January.

(sharing a few pictures of the events)

Went to Thailand for 12 days with the husband (Lets call him 'J') in February.

Than came to Oman, as my husband and his family lives here.

For the last few weeks i've been piling up recipes to post on the blog, just couldnt find the time.

The recipe that i'll be sharing today, is actually my mother's. She's an amazing cook and she has such an authentic desi palette !

You can never go wrong with this recipe. One of the best, believe me!

For this Recipe, You'll need:

750 grams of Mutton/Beef/Chicken (i used mutton)

1 large Onion, sliced

2 large Tomatoes

7-8 Green chilies

1/2 tsp of Cumin

1 tbsp of Ginger Garlic paste

1 tsp of Whole Black pepper

1 tsp of Cloves

1 stick of Cinnamon

2-3 Black cardamom 

2 tsp of Red chili powder

Salt to taste

1 tsp of Coriander powder

1/4 tsp of Turmeric powder

2 Potatoes, largely diced

a few sprigs of Coriander, chopped

1 tsp of Garam Masala powder

Heat oil in a pan, Fry Onion till golden brown.

Take out and blend with tomatoes, green chilies and cumin.

In the same pan, Fry ginger garlic paste till fragrant...

...than add cloves, black pepper, cinnamon and Black cardamom. Cook for half a minute...

...than add mutton.

When the mutton changes color, add the blended tomato and onion paste...

...and all the spices.

Add about a cup of water and let it cook on medium flame till the mutton is tender.

When the water evaporates...

...add potatoes. Mix for a minute...

...than add about 4-5 cups of water.

Let this cook for about 30 minutes of low flame. or till the gravy is the thickness than you want.

Just before serving, add garam masala and coriander on top 

Enjoy !