INGREDIENTS:
-
One cup ---------------------------------- Basmati Rice
- Half cup ---------------------------------- Chickpeas (White)
- One medium size -------------------- Onion
- Two pieces ----------------------------- Green Chillies
- One inch long ------------------------- Ginger
- Five cloves ---------------------------- Garlic
- Two medium size -------------------- Tomatoes (crushed)
- Two tablespoons --------------------- Oil or ghee or both
- Whole garam masala mix --------- (cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf, fennel seeds)
- One tablespoon ----------------------- Biryani Masala*
- Half cup ---------------------------------- Mint leaves (Podina in urdu)
- Half cup ---------------------------------- Coriander leaves (Dhaniya in urdu) (chopped)
- Lemon Juice --------------------------- (add as required)
- Salt - as per taste
*(If you do not have biryani masala, add 1/4 tsp of turmeric Powder, 1 tsp red chilly powder and 1 tsp Garam masala powder)
DIRECTIONS
-
Wash the chickpeas and soak it overnight or for at least 6 hours. You can use canned chickpeas to reduce cooking time.
- Wash the basmati rice and soak it for half an hour or more depending on the quality of rice you buy. soaking time may vary.
- Coarsely grind the following ingredients in a blender or mixie - onion, green chillies, ginger, garlic, mint leaves and whole garam masala.
- Heat the ghee in a pressure cooker. Add the above ground paste. Saute for 5 minutes.
- Put the biryani masala and fry for a minute.
- Next add the tomatoes and cook untill the masala combine together.
- Add 1-3/4 cups of water and untill it turns to boil. To make the biryani more rich, add 3/4 cup of coconut milk and 1 cup of water instead of full water.
- Add the soaked chickpeas, salt as needed, lemon juice and cilantro. Finally, drain the soaking rice and add to the boiling water.
- Close the cooker, put the pressure and reduce the flame. Cook on low heat for 15 minutes and switch off.
- Once the pressure is released, fluff the rice with a fork. Chana Biryani is ready to serve. Serve with any raita or gravies like ennai kathirikai, paneer butter masala.
