Qabuli Biryani#Alphabet Challenge

Qabuli Biryani is a vegetarian layered rice dish from Andhra, this biryani has layers of basmati rice, chana dal in a yogurt gravy and saffron milk & kewra water! I made this for our friends get together and they all were amazed with the flavor and taste.
Serves 6
Ingredients
For The Chana Dal Gravy
150 grams Chana Dal / Bengal Gram Lentil - soaked
1½ Teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
½ Cup Oil
1 Cup Thick Yogurt - whisked
3 Green Chilies - slit
3 Tablespoons Chopped Coriander Leaves
1 Teaspoon Red Chili Powder
1 Teaspoon Kitchen King Masala
½ Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
1 Teaspoon Cumin Powder
½ Cup + ½ Cup Brown Onion - crushed
1 Teaspoon Salt
A Juice of One Lemon juice
1 Large Potato - boiled and fried
Whole Spices
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 Bay Leaf
2 Cloves
4 Whole Black Peppercorns
1" Stick Cinnamon
1 Brown Cardamom
2 Green Cardamoms
For The Rice
300 Grams Basmati Rice
2 Tablespoons Sea Salt
Whole Spices
½ Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1" Stick Cinnamon
3 Cardamoms
5 Cloves
8 Black Peppercorns
1 Brown Cardamom
Method
To Boil The Rice

Wash and soak the basmati rice for 15 minutes
Boil 6 -8 cups of water and salt. Add the whole spices. Drain the excess water from the soaked rice. When the water comes to roll boil,add the rice and boil for about 10 minutes on medium flame. Remove the rice when it is just cooked but the grains should be firm. Drain the water, let it cool completely.
For The Chana Dal Gravy
Wash and soak the chana dal for 2 hours.

Heat oil in a kadai / pot fry add all the whole spices and sauté for a minute then add ginger garlic paste, and sauté till the raw aroma vanishes. Switch off the flame, add then ½ cup room temperature water and then the whisked yogurt mix well. Place the pot back on to the flame and on high flame stirring continuously with a whisk, whisk this till it comes to a rolling boil, then reduce the flame ( the yogurt will not curdle if you try this method, this is a tried and tested method). Now add the dal mix well, ½ cup crushed brown onions and place this on the flame and cook covered on low flame till the dal is just done but still whole. Add green chilies and half the coriander leaves, give it a stir. 

This gravy should be thick, do not dry this completely. Switch off the flame add lemon juice. Keep aside. 

Assemble The Biryani 

In a heavy bottom pan add ¼ cup water, & ¼ cup oil mix well and then half of the boiled rice with a sprinkle of pinch of salt and then add all of the cooked dal mixture. 

A sprinkle coriander leaves, potatoes cubes and brown onions.

Then the remaining rice top it with yellow color, fried onions, coriander leaves, slices of tomatoes and few drops of kewra and a few dollops of butter all over. Cover it with a foil tightly and leave it on dum on high flame for 5 minutes then very low flame for 15 minutes. Switch off the flame. 

Let it rest for 10 minutes. 

Lightly mix the rice and serve hot. We enjoyed this with raita.
Labels: Alphabet Challenge,Chana Dal, Biryani, Rice, Indian, Andhra Pradesh,Main course, Vegetarian

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet Challenge 2026 - Alphabet "Q"

• Baked Quail Egg XO Sauce Appetizers from Food Lust People Love
• Cauliflower, Onion, and Pancetta Quiche from Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Fresh Corn Quiche from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Fresh Summer Corn & Zucchini Sausage Quiche from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Jalapeño Popper Quesadillas from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Mughlai Paneer Qorma from Mayuri’s Jikoni
• Qabuli Biryani from Sneha’s Recipe
• Quatre Quarts from Culinary Cam
• Queen Elizabeth Cake from A Messy Kitchen
• Western Omelette Quiche from Blogghetti

Risgrøt - Norwegian Rice Porridge#EatTheWorld

Risgrøt is a festive Norwegian creamy rice porridge / pudding, made with rice and milk, topped with cinnamon powder, sugar and butter. This is traditionally served on Christmas Eve for breakfast or as a dessert after a meal, it's  heartwarming, makes a delicious satisfying treat. I have added fresh cream at the end to give this a rich and creamy taste. When I visited Norway they served us this pudding and its was so delicious and creamy.

When Camilla chose this country for this month theme, this was the first dish that came to my mind and as I, was researching about it, read some unique history of this dish. On Christmas Eve, they usually have risgrøt for lunch and hide a skinned whole almond in the porridge (so it’s not easy to find). Then whoever finds the almond wins the julegris / Christmas marzipan pig! Whoever finds it tries to be very secretive about finding the almond so that everyone keeps eating more and more porridge in the hope that they’ll be the winner. I loved this cool secret behind this dish and the pleasure that one gets when we follow/celebrate traditions with family and friends.

Ingredients
½ Cup Short Grain White Rice
1½  Cup Water
5 -6 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
½ teaspoon Cardamom powder
2½ Cups Whole Milk
2 Tablespoons Salted Butter
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon powder
3 Tablespoons Fresh Cream
Method

Add the rice, water in a saucepan and cook (without cover) until most of the water is absorbed and the rice is cooked.
Add the milk, vanilla, cardamom powder and  sugar continue cooking on low heat, stirring frequently so the porridge doesn't stick. Cook until the porridge is as thick as you would like. Then add the fresh cream and switch off the flame. 
Serve it with a sprinkle of sugar, cinnamon and a small cube of  butter. You can also serve this with a topping of fresh berries this is optional.

Enjoy this delicious pudding!
Labels: Norway,  Rice, Pudding, Porridge, Dessert, Eat the World, Gluten free, International Cuisine, Milk

Check out all the wonderful Norwegian recipes prepared by fellow Eat the World members and share with #eattheworld. Find out how to join Eat the World here and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us!
For Eat The World we are sharing recipes of Norway. 

• An Array of Flavors from Norway: Aquavit-Cured Salmon, Snøfrisk, Gjetost by Culinary Cam
• Fiskesuppe by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Norwegian Risgrøt Rice Porridge by Sneha's Recipe
• Scandinavian Almond Cake by Amy's Cooking Adventures 

Paneer Tomato Rice With Leftover Rice For One#SundayFunday

This is a simple stir fry rice with leftover rice, to make it nutritious added lots of paneer (since this also is leftover), tomato and spices to to give an extra kick and taste to it. A quick fix meal when you tired and have leftover rice and veggies lying in the refrigerator. Just use whatever you have in the quantity doesn't matter.

Single Serving
Ingredients
1 Cup Packed Boiled Rice
2 Tablespoons Sesame Oil
2 Tablespoons Finley Shredded Cabbage
2 Small Green Bell pepper
2 Mushrooms sliced
2 Small Tomatoes  - blended
1 Tablespoon Chopped Tomato
100 Grams Paneer cubed

½ Teaspoon Cumin seeds
½ Teaspoon Red Chilly powder

1 Teaspoon Coriander powder
1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Small Cube Veg seasoning
1 Teaspoon Lemon juice

Method 

Heat sesame oil in kadai/pan,  add cumin seeds, when they crackle, add in the ginger garlic paste, sauté for a minute . Now add in the asafoetida , curry leaves , onions and cabbage too sauté till onions are translucent. Add in the blended tomatoes , turmeric, coriander, red chilly powder  and black pepper powder and sauté till oil surfaces and in the veg cube seasoning and mix well. 

Cover  with a lid and cook form a mushy gravy. Now add in the bell pepper/capsicum, chopped tomato, mushroom and lemon juice,  sauté well. Cover and let this cook for a minute on medium low flame. Add boiled rice and paneer, mix well till the gravy coats the rice. Again cover with a lid and let the rice get heated up for about 2 minutes. Open give it a good mix.

Serve and enjoy hot!! This is delicious meal, meatless meal!!
Labels: Leftover series, Rice, Paneer, Cottage Cheese, Main course, Vegetarian, Stir Fry, Single Serving, Sunday Funday

For Sunday Funday we are sharing recipe made with Cottage Cheese, Paneer or Tofu 

Corn Paneer Parathas from Mayuri's Jikoni

Cottage Cheese Muffins from A Day in the Life on the Farm    

Cottage Cheese Wraps from Making Miracles 

Cheese Paneer Tikka Open Sandwich in Air Fryer on Sourdough from Cook with Renu 

Firecracker Tofu Broccolini Stir-Fry from Food Lust People Love 

Homemade Paneer Recipe Ideas from Sid's Sea Palm Cooking

Paneer Tomato Rice With Leftover Rice For One from Sneha's Recipe 

Pasta with Green Beans and Ricotta from Karen's Kitchen Stories 

Potato, Cottage Cheese, & Caramelized Onion Pierogi from Amy's Cooking Adventures

Retro Cottage Cheese Jello Salad from A Messy Kitchen 

Tricolour Crispy Tofu Wrap from Mildly Indian 

Anday Aur Subzi Pulao#AlphabetChallenge

This Anday Aur Subzi Pulao / Egg & Vegetable Pulao is quick and easy to make. I have made this in the pressure cooker. It's  a complete meal or what you could say, a One Dish Meal. Healthy and filling with all the required nutrients.

Ingredients

2 Cups Rice - washed and soaked for at least 30 minutes
1 Tablespoon Garlic Paste - mixed with 2 tablespoons water
2 Medium Onions - chopped
1 Large Capsicum - sliced
1 Cup French Beans -chopped
2 Potatoes - cubed
2 Carrots- cubed
1½ Teaspoon Red Chili Powder or according to taste
2 Green Chilies -slit or cut into big pieces
2 Tomatoes - chopped
4 Eggs 
½ Teaspoon Salt or to taste
2 Veg Soup Cubes
1/3 Cup Oil
1 Tablespoon Desi Ghee
Whole Spice Mix
2 Green Cardamoms
1 Brown Cardamom
4 Cloves
5 Black Peppercorns
1 Bay Leaf
1 Cinnamon Stick 

Method

Heat oil and ghee in a pressure pan add garlic paste, sauté till it dries then add the onion fry till light golden. Add whole spices with chopped tomatoes, salt, soup cube, chilly powder and green chilies, fry for a minute. Add all the chopped vegetables, sauté for 2 minutes. 

Then add in the soaked and drained rice. Fry the rice for 2 minutes. Add 3 cups water, bringing it to rolling boil. Give it a light stir, place the eggs to top.  Cover with the pressure cooker lid, on high flame take 2 whistles. Switch off the flame, keep it covered till the cooker has cooled down or when ready to serve. Remove the shell of the eggs, cut them.   Serve hot with garnished with eggs.

Labels: Rice, Vegetables, Egg, Healthy, Pressure Cooker, One Dish Meal, One Pan Dinners, Alphabet Challenge

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet Challenge 2026 - Alphabet "A" 

• Food Lust People Love: Ají de Cerdo - Peruvian Pork Stew 
• Mayuri’s Jikoni: Aloo Bhaji & Poori 
• A Messy Kitchen: Amygdalopita
• Sneha’s Recipe: Anday Aur Subzi Pulao
• A Day in the Life on the Farm: Apple Crumb Pie 
• Blogghetti: Apple Pork Chops 
• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Arancini
• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Argentine-Style Burgers with Chimichurri Sauce 
• Magical Ingredients: Artichoke Spinach Rolls
• Culinary Cam: Atchara: A Pickle from My People…and My Grandmother 
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Homemade Apple & Whiskey Barbecue Sauce 
• Palatable Pastime: Magic Pan Orange and Almond Salad 

Vegetarian Rice Roni With Homemade Rice Roni Mix#SundayFunday

This Homemade Rice Roni is a blend of rice and pasta which then cooked in butter, chicken/vegetable stock and seasonings until light and fluffy. A quick easy dish that tastes so good. This Homemade Rice-A-Roni has no artificial ingredients and is absolutely delicious.

I had this Rice Roni many times when abroad. I loved it , but, here it's not available so made my own. This is a basic mix, you can have many add ons/flavorful spices to it when you are cooking this as a meal.

This Homemade Rice Roni is the perfect accompaniment to make a complete and delicious meal with chicken, fish, steak or shrimp. 
Ingredients
200 Grams Spaghetti - broken into pieces
2 Cups Basmati Rice
1 Tablespoon Oil
Method
Wash the rice with a wet cloth and let it dry for some time. In the meantime in a pan heat a tablespoon of oil and fry the spaghetti for a minute or two only. Cool and mix it with the rice.

Homemade Rice Roni Mix is ready.

Made a vegetarian version of this for our lunch.
Vegetarian Rice Roni

Ingredients
1 Tablespoon Dried Chives
1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning Mix
1 Bay Leaf
¼ Teaspoon Black Pepper Powder or to taste
1 Vegetable Stock Cube
1 Scallion/Spring Onion - chopped
1 Medium Onion - chopped
1 Teaspoon Minced Garlic
5 - 6 Broccoli Florets
¼ Cup Diced Carrots
¼ Cup French Beans - chopped
½ Cup Colored Bell Peppers - chopped
1 Small Tomatoes - chopped
1½ Cups Rice Roni
3½ Cups Water
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 Tablespoon Oil

Method

Heat oil and butter in a large pot/pan, fry the onion, till translucent, add all the veggies, chives, seasoning , bay leaf and sauté for a minute.  

Add the stock cube, water , give it a light mix and bring this to a rolling boil.

Now add the Rice Roni , give it a light stir. Cover, let it be on high flame for a minute then reduce the flame to low and let it cook for 12 -15 minutes giving it a light stir after 5 minutes. Check for taste and seasoning, add black pepper powder to your taste ( this is optional).

When liquid has been absorbed, take a test bite to see if rice is cooked through. Add hot water if necessary and continue cooking if it needs a bit more time.

Delicious Rice Roni is ready to enjoy.

Serve this with Egg And Cauliflower Salad.
Labels: Broccoli, Carrot, Vegetarian, Pasta, International Cuisine, Capsicum, Rice Roni, Pasta & Noodles, Homemade, Rice, Sunday Funday

Check this recipe made with Rice Roni Mix  

• A Voyage into the Pasta Universe with Gluten-Free Pestazzule. Mafaldine. and Stringozzi by Culinary Cam
• Pasta alla Norcina Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Pumpkin Gnocchi by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Spaetzle by Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
• Vegetarian Rice Roni With Homemade Rice Roni Mix by Sneha's Recipe

Sukhi Roti Ki Khichdi#SundayFunday

Sukhi Roti Ki Khichdi is a healthy, tasty meal delicious way to use leftover roti/phulka's. Suhki mean dry, here the phulkas are dried wrapped in a cloth and kept in a basket to dry , till they are crisp.

I have kept them for nearly 6 - 7 days. These do not spoil or mildew since they are kept open. You place the basket on fridge top or on the dinning table. This is a healthy meal of Rajasthani/Jodhpur's cuisine, even veggies like cauliflower, cabbage, potato, peas are added along with rice and roti. 

This is quick and easy to prepare using fewer easily available ingredients. This has a nice flavor of whole spices like bay leaf, cloves, black cardamom. You can serve this as a lunch and dinner to your family. It is a one-pot meal you can have with curd or as it is. Everyone will love this one pot meal. 

Serves 2 - 3
Ingredients 
3 Dried Phulka's
½ Cup Basmati Rice
1 Medium Potato - diced
½ Cup Cauliflower Florets
1 Green Chilly - chopped - optional
1 Medium Carrot - diced
¼ Cup Green Peas - can use frozen 
½ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
½ Teaspoon Heaped Red Chilly Powder
1 Teaspoon Coriander Powder
1 Teaspoon Level Salt or to taste
2 Tablespoons Coriander Leaves 
Juice Of One Lime
4 Tablespoons Oil
Whole Spices
2 Bay Leaves
1 Black Cardamom
4 Cloves
4 Black Peppercorns
1 Small Piece Cinnamon
½ Teaspoon Cumin seeds
Method

Heat oil in a pressure pan, add all the whole spices, when they crackle add the onions and sauté till they are translucent.

Add sliced potato, cauliflower florets, carrot and peas. Sauté it for a couple of minutes. Add turmeric powder, red chilly powder, coriander powder, mix well, cook on low flame for 2 minutes. 

Then add 2 cups water, washed and drained rice , salt and lemon juice. 

Mix well and let it come to a rolling boil.

Once the water is boiled, Add dried roti pieces. Mix well. Cover with the lid and let it cook on high flame for 2 whistles. Then switch off the flame. 

When the cooker cools, garnish it with coriander leaves.
Delicious 'Sukhi Roti Ki Khichdi' is ready to be served. 

Enjoy with salad and yogurt.
Labels: Main course, One Pot Meal, Pressure Cooker, Phulka, Rice, Mixed Veggies, Sunday Funday, Indian, Vegetarian, Vegan, Leftover series

This week’s Sunday Funday is hosted by Amy by Amy’s Cooking Adventures and our theme is One Dish Meals
• Bean and Kielbasa Stew by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Korean Style Beef Short Ribs with Bok Choy by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Pečena Piletine Sa Rižom (Baked Chicken & Rice) by Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Roast Chicken, Bacon and Cauliflower Bolognese by Food Lust People Love
• Sama Pulao by Mayuri's Jikoni
• Sukhi Roti Ki Khichdi by Sneha's Recipe

Firni/Phirni#AlphabetChallenge

Firni / Phirni is a sweet pudding, made by boiling milk, sugar and rice, it's popular creamy sweet dish of India, made for festivals or important occasions/celebrations. The rice used in this sweet dish is coarsely powdered, it has dry fruits and am, sure you will love it.

Ingredients  

500 ML Milk
2 Tablespoons Heaped Basmati Rice 

½ Cup Fresh Cream  

¼ Cup Sugar  

2 Tablespoons Each Almonds & Pistachio - silvered 

½ Teaspoon Cardamom powder
Method 

Wash the rice and soak it for 2 hours.  After that drain all the water in a fine mesh colander and then dry it on a clean cloth  for an hour or so ( it should be slightly wet not completely dry).  After that grind it to a coarse powder. 

Boil milk, add  rice, bring it to boil, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Reduce the flame on medium low and stir continuously. Add more milk if starts to thicken and cook till the rice is done. 

Now add the sugar and again stir till the sugar melts. Then add the fresh cream stir it and switch off flame. Add half of the pistachio and almond slivers, cardamom powder and stir well.  Refrigerate it for few hours.  

Serve  this cold in kullad pots (terracotta clay pots) garnished with pistachio and almond slivers.

Enjoy!!!

Labels : Sweets & Desserts, Firni, Pudding, Rice, Almond, Pistachios, Milk, Festival Sweets, Kullad, Alphabet Challenge

Let's take a look at the recipes being shared today with Alphabet "F"

Jolene’s Recipe Journal: French Onion Soup

Blogghetti: Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Fluffy Focaccia with Garlic Oil and Herbes de Provence

Sneha’s Recipe: Firni/Phirni

Food Lust People Love: Fish Sauce Roasted Chicken

Mayuri’s Jikoni: Fattoush Salad

A Messy Kitchen: Fennel, Tangerine & Olive Slaw

A Day in the Life on the Farm: Roasted Vegetable Farro Bowl

Culinary Cam: Fig Leaf-Wrapped Cheese 

Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Sausage Meatballs with Vodka Fennel Sauce