Tasty and Easy Recipes

Ingredients:
5 cups dry rice, preferably Basmati
2 tbsp. plus 2 tsp. salt
1 cup butter
1 tbsp. plain yogurt
1/2 tsp. powdered saffron
2 tsp. boiling water

Methods:
In a bowl, wash the rice 3 times and then soak for 1 hour in lukewarm water to cover mixed with 2 tbsp. of the salt.
Pour 10 cups water in a nonstick pot, add the remaining 2 tsp. salt and bring to a vigorous boil.
Drain the water from the presoaked rice and add the rice to the boiling water.
Stir, cover and bring back to a boil, boiling for 3 to 4 minutes. The rice
should move freely and float to the top of the pot.
Drain the rice in a colander, rinse with lukewarm water and taste. If the rice is salty, rinse with more water. In a large nonstick pot, melt the butter; add 1-cup water and stir.
Set aside half of this mixture. Add the yogurt to the butter remaining in the pot and stir well. Gently spoon the rice on top of this mixture,forming a cone.
Cover. Cook on medium heat until steam is visible, about 15 minutes.
Cook for 15 minutes more, then turn the heat down to low and pour the remaining butter mixture over the rice. Wrap the lid of the pot tightly with a kitchen towel to prevent the steam from escaping and cook for another 45 minutes.
Spoon 1 cup of rice from the top of the pot onto a plate and mix gently with the saffron mixture. Set aside. Mound the rice in the shape of a cone on a serving platter.
Add saffron rice to the top before serving. Remove the crust from
the bottom of the pan and serve separately, cut into squares or
wedges.

Ingredients:
1 cup Rice (Chawal)
2 cup Water
200 gms Cauliflower (Phool gobi) Florets
2 small Potato (Aloo)
1/2 cup fresh Peas (Matar)
1 large Onion (Pyaj)
3-4 black Cardamoms (Elaichi)
1/2 tsp Red chilli (Lal Mirchi) Powder
1 x 1 inch Cinnamon (Tuj/Dalchini)
2-4 Cloves (Lavang)
4 tblsp Oil
1 tsp Salt (Namak)

Method:
Wash and soak the rice for 1 hour, drain and keep aside.
Slice the onion finely and chop the potatoes into small pieces.
Heat oil in a pan and fry the onions till golden brown, add all the vegetables, cinnamon, cloves and cardamoms.
Saute for 2-3 minutes, add little water and cook till the potatoes and peas are half cooked.
Then add the drained rice, salt and red chilli powder. Mix well.
Add 2 cups of water and boil.
When the water starts boiling, reduce the flame and cover and cook till the rice is done.

Ingredients:
2 cups Basmati Rice
1 cup Mixed Vegetables (cauliflower, potato, carrot, french beans)
150 gms Green Peas
3 Finely Sliced Onion
2 Finely Sliced Green Chillies
Salt to taste
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
2 tsp Cinnamon(dalchini), Caraway Seeds(zeera)
4 Cloves (laung)
1/2 tsp Black Pepper Powder
4 Tomato
1/2 cup Yogurt (curd) (optional)
4 tbsp Vegetable Oil
1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
3 tbsp Dry Fruits (cashew nuts, raisin)

Method:

Wash the basmati rice well before cooking.Then take rice with 3-3/4 cup water and a little salt added to it and 2 tbsp of dry fruits.Cook it in pressure cooker or in a pan or microwave.
Cut all the vegetables into small thin pieces and fry each one of it separately in oil.
Fry the green peas also.
Take 1 tblsp oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, green chilli, cinnamon and caraway seeds powder, cloves, black pepper powder and stir for about half minute. Then add onions and saute them for a minute ot till they get pink in color.
Add salt and red chilli powder and stir.
Add fine chopped tomatoes and fry till they are properly cooked.
Take the yogurt and make it fine by putting in a blender for just 2 rotations. Add this fine yogurt and stir well.Heat it for about 10 seconds.
Add all the fried vegetables.
Add the cooked rice and mix well with very light hands so that the rice grain doesn’t break. Cook for about 3 minutes.
Take this vegetable biryani out in a rice serving dish.
Garnish with dry fruits and green coriander leaves.

Serve the vegetable biryani hot with raita and pickle.

Ingredients:
2 large tomatoes made into a thick puree.
1 cup basmati rice, washed and soaked for ten minutes
1 whole black cardamom (bari ilaichi)
1 tsp red chili powder (lal mirch )
Salt to taste
1 tsp garam masala powder.
1 tblsp ghee
2 cup water

Method:
Heat ghee in a heavy bottom vessel
Put in the whole black cardamom and then the tomato puree.
Now add the dry spices, salt and saute.
Put in the rice and mix well.
Finally add the water and cook covered till done.
Seve hot.