Paneer Tikka Biryani:

I wanted to try Paneer Tikka Biryani at home from so long. Both my daughters love the Paneer tikka biriyani from Konark Restaurant, Commercial Street.  I tried my own method and it turned out to be a hit with my folks and I want to share it with my readers as well.

Let us see how I proceeded –

First thing I did was Marination of paneer. I always prefer 2 hrs or more Marination in the fridge.

Ingredients:

For Marination:

plain curd – 2 to 3 cups (250 grams)

Ginger garlic paste – 1 to 1 ½ table spoon

salt

Red chilli powder – 1 to 1 ½ tsp

Turmeric – 1 tsp

Coriander powder – 2 table spoons

Cumin powder – 1 table spoon

Garam masala powder – 1 ½ tsp

Paneer – 200 grams

Capsicum – 3 ( Red, yellow and green) 

Onion – 2 (medium)

For Biryani:

Basmati rice – 3 cups

Onion – 1 

Tomato – 2

Ghee – 2 table spoons

Bay leaf – 2

Cardamom – 2

Cinnamon – 1 inch piece

Star anise – 2

Shahi jeera – 1 tsp

Green chilli -2

Chopped Pudina – half cup

Chopped Coriander leaves – half cup

Any Biryani Masala – 1 table spoon

Coconut milk – 1 cup or 1 pack of coconut milk powder.

Method:

For Paneer and veggie Tikka:

-Take one  bowl , put curd and all the masalas, salt etc and prepare for marination .

-Chop Capsicum ,onion and paneer into cubes and Drop in . Mix thoroughly and store this in a fridge to marinate at least for 2 hours.

-Take one non stick tawa, place marinated onion, capsicum and paneer chunks and roast both the sides and keep it ready. You can opt an oven or grill as well.

-Retain marinated masala ( with curd) for further use.

Now we would see the Biryani Preperation:

-Wash and Soak rice for 10 minutes, drain.

-Puree 2 tomatoes , by cooking in a little water , cool and grind.

-Slice onion , slit green chillies.Chop pudina and coriander leaves.

-Take one tawa/ rice cooker or pressure cooker. I normally prepare  in tawa and pour it into rice cooker for final cooking.

-Put ghee, add whole masalas ( cinnamon, cardamom, shahi jeera, star anise and bay leaves.

-Add onion, green chilli and fry for a while, then tomato puree, left over marinated masala  and fry until it leaves oil at sides.

-Now, add pudina and coriander, biryani masala and fry for 2 minutes.

-Next add coconut milk powder, water (4 cups) , adjust salt, add drained rice , tawa roasted veggies, paneer tikka and cook in a simmer or pour into rice cooker and cook further.

-When it is ready, serve with your choice of raita.

Note: Adjust water accordingly , by calculating marinated curd, tomato puree, if you are adding coconut milk, include that as well.

-Normally, how i take is: if i am using Basmati rice : for 1 cup of rice: 2 cups of water + 1 cups extra for veggies to cook. ( Here: 3 cups of Rice: 6 cups of water + 1 cup for veggies)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vegetable Nagercoil Biryani:

When I saw this Nagercoil biryani on this website, I couldn’t wait more and tried it with a vegetarian option. Instead of mutton, I tried with double beans, baby potatoes and sweet corn. Kids liked it and I’m happy to share it with you all.

It is little different than our usual biryanis. Usage of small grain rice is a highlight of this biryani.

pic 3

Ingredient:

Jeera or small grain rice – 3 cups

Vegetables – ½ kg

Oil – 3 table spoon

Ghee – 3 table spoon

Onion – 3 (chopped)

Ginger garlic paste – 1 table spoon

Green chillies – 4

Tomato – 2

Turmeric – ½ teaspoon

Red chilli powder – ½ teaspoon

Coriander powder – 1 teaspoon

Coriander leaves – handful

Mint leaves –handful

Curd- ½ cup

Cashew – 10

Raisins – 10

Salt

Whole masala: Cinnamon -1 stick, clove -4, Cardamom-2, Bay leaf – ½, star anise -2, stone flower -2, Cumin – 1 tsp, Mace – 2 petals .

Method:

  • Wash and soak rice for half an hour. After half an hour drain the water and keep aside.
  • Chop vegetables, here I have taken sweet corn cob, baby potatoes, carrot, beans and double beans.
  • Heat oil and 2 table spoon of ghee in a cooker. Add whole masalas.

pic 1

  • Add Chopped onions and green chillies, fry until it becomes light brown.
  • Add ginger garlic paste and fry for a while.
  • Add chopped tomatoes, chopped veggies, sufficient salt and fry until tomatoes becomes mushy and veggies are coated with masala.
  • Add turmeric, red chilli powder and coriander powder and fry for a while.
  • Add chopped coriander, mint and curd.
  • Add drained rice and mix everything together and add sufficient water (here I took 5 ½ cups of water)

pic 2

  • Fry cashews and raisins in a table spoon of ghee and add it to cooker vessel.
  • Check for salt and close the lid and cook until one whistle, keep it in a simmer for 3 to 4 minutes and switch off the gas.
  • When pressure relieves, open the lid and mix everything together and serve this tasty biryani with onion raita.

pic 4

NOTE:

  • I usually take 1 ½ cups of water for 1 cup of Jeera/small grain rice.
  • Additional 1 cup of water for veggies to cook.