Making Crispy Deep-Fried Onions / Birista

If you are familiar with Indian food, you have eaten their birista (bah-REES-tah): thinly-sliced crispy, golden, deep-fried onions. They are eaten as a snack and used as an additive to, or a topper for, delectable dishes like biryani, curries, steamed rice, mashed potato filling, soups, salads, sandwiches, grilled meats, meat patties and savory breads.
These onions are full of flavor and enhance the dish to a great extent.   So lets make it ......

Ingredients

4 Large Onions - peeled

Oil for deep frying

Method

Cut onions into thin slices, and keep them to dry spread on a sheet for an hour at least.  Then using your fingertips just separate them.

After an hour,  heat oil  deep fry pan or kadai, heat it on medium flame, place a handful of them at a time in it.

Using your fingertips, sprinkle a little, don't dump all at once the sliced onions into the hot oil.

Using a long-handled fork,  give the onions a quick stir to make sure they are separated.

After three minutes, during the cooking process, they will look like this, just beginning to show signs of browning.

Give the onions another quick stir with the fork to, once again, make sure they are staying separated.

Continue to fry, another 3 minutes.  They will look like this photo: golden brown with white centers.

Stir onions one last time and when you find this light golden brown color remove them with a slotted spoon on to a absorbent paper ( do wait till they are very dark brown or else they will have a burnt taste). Repeat the process until all onions are deep-fried. 

Cool at least 1 hour before serving.

They stay good if kept in the deep freezer for months.

Labels : Rice, Vegetarian, Onion, Fried Onions, Biryani, Birista

Masoor Biryani

The recipe I am going to share today is Masoor Biryani. I had this at friends birthday party and from that time on wanted to try this recipe. I have made this recipe many times, it's tasty and is a keeper. You will not fail if you try this recipe that is assured. 
As you know biryani is a lengthy process, but let this not deter you from making it, because it taste awesome. So, lets prepare this awesome recipe.

Ingredients
2 Cups Whole Masoor Dal - (Soaked and boiled)
7 Onions - sliced
4 Potatoes  (cut into quarters and fried)
3 Tomatoes - finely chopped
1 Cup Yogurt
2 Tablespoon Biryani masala
1 Tablespoons Chilly powder

1 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1 Tablespoons Cumin
1 Bay Leaf
2 Big Brown Cardamons
1 Inch Cinnamon
3 Cloves
3 Peppercorns
3 Tablespoons Coriander powder
2 Tablespoons Ginger & garlic paste

Oil
A pinch of Kesar/Saffron strands soaked in milk
3 Tablespoons Lemon juice 

Method
Heat oil in a pan ,add cumin seeds and bay leaf, cardamons, cinnamon, cloves and peppercorns, let then crackle. Then add half the onions fry till golden brown.  Add ginger- garlic paste, tomatoes, chilly powder, turmeric, coriander powder, biryani masala and fry till oil separates . Add yogurt and fry for a few minutes till moisture evaporates. Then add the dal and fry well taking care that the dal is not mashed.

The Masoor dal is ready.
In a another pan had enough oil and deep fry  the remaining onions till brown and crisp.   This  Crispy Deep Fried Onions / Birista ,will be used for garnishing and layering of the biryani.
For the rice
Ingredients
2 Cups Basmati Rice ( I used sela basmati rice)
2 Tablespoon Ghee
1 Bay leaf
2 Small Green Cardamoms
1 Tablespoon Ginger-Garlic paste
Salt to taste
3 Cups Water
Method
In a pan heat ghee, add the bay leaf and cardamoms. Add the ginger garlic paste. Add water and salt and bring the water to a boil. Add the rice and cook on high till all water evaporates and then on slow for till rice is 3/4th done. Just sprinkle oil or ghee and spread it on a plate to cool.

For the layering
Grease a thick bottom vessel with oil or ghee. Then, first place a layer of the dal.

Sprinkle the lemon juice, garnish it with mint leaves and coriander leaves. Arrange the fried potatoes. Then sprinkle some fried onions.

Then cover this with a layer of cooked rice. Sprinkle kesar/saffron milk evenly on the rice. Then continue with the dal and the rest of layering process .

Lastly sprinkle the last of the kesar/saffron milk, garnish with fried onions.

Dot some butter or ghee on top cover with foil or a tight lid and cook on slow flame for 15 minutes.

My Notes: I arranged the layers in an oven proof dish and covered it with foil. Place this dish it in a preheated oven at 180 degrees for 20 minutes.  
I have also place tomato wedges as the sides. 

We enjoyed this dish with curds, papad cone and salad with sliced onions and cucumber sticks with a sprinkle of chat masala.

Sending this to Mireille's, challenge cooking with seeds.

Labels: Complete Meal, Masoor dal, Lentils, Rice, Healthy, Main course, Cooking with seeds,  Gluten free, Biryani, Birista

Nawabi Mutton Biryani With Burani Boondi Raita#SundayFunday

Biryani is an aromatic rice dish made with layers of tender meat pieces (or goat / lamb/ beef or chicken meat), fragrant basmati rice, deep fried onions, aromatic Indian spices.

This Nawabi Mutton Biryani recipe is easy to follow and is perfect for a party wherein you can prep a day before and assemble on the day of the party or feast, its not spicy it has minimum spices. If you feel intimidated by seeing so many ingredients, after following my recipe you no longer will!
For this biryani, used more mutton than rice, since mutton is very boney, so I used 750 grams mutton bone in and 250 grams boneless mutton.

Serves 8 - 10
Ingredients
To Boil The Rice
½ kg Rice
Whole Spices
1 Inch Piece Cinnamon
3 Green Cardamoms
6 Black Peppercorns
6 Cloves
½ Teaspoon Shahjeera
For The Mutton Marination
1 Kg Mutton - cut into medium big pieces
4 Button Red Chilies - soak and grind to a fine paste
1 Tablespoons Ginger Garlic paste
250 Grams Yogurt - whisked
¾ Cup Birista/Fried Onions - homemade
½ Teaspoon Turmeric powder
½ Teaspoon Salt
½ Cup Oil
Other Ingredients
6 Dried Apricots - fried
10 Cashewnuts - fried
2 Tablespoons Red Chilly Paste
1 Teaspoon Heaped Biryani Masala
2 Tablespoons Sambal Oleake or Red Chilly Paste
½ Cup Oil
1 Cup Water
¼ Cup Desi Ghee
¼ Cup Water
¼ Cup Brown onion
1 Teaspoon Garam Masala powder
¼ Teaspoon Saffron - crushed & soaked in ¼ cup milk
½ Cup Chopped Coriander leaves
½ Cup Mint leaves
2 Teaspoons Salt
Fried Potato Wedges - optional
Whole Spices
4 Cloves
1 Bay Leaf
1 Brown Cardamom
3 Petals Star anise
1 Inch Stick Cinnamon
3 Green Cardamoms
6 Black Peppercorns
6 Cloves
½ Teaspoon Shahjeera
Method
To Boil The Rice

Boil the rice with with the whole spices and salt till 90% nearly done.
Soak & grind the red chilies to a fine paste. Keep aside
Marinate mutton pieces with yogurt, ground chilly paste, ginger garlic paste, crushed brown onions, turmeric and salt. Refrigerate for 3 - 4 hours or better still overnight.

In a pressure cooker heat oil, fry the dried apricots and cashew nuts, keep aside. Now add the whole spices saute for a minute then add the marinated mutton, fry till oil surfaces, then add a cup water. Cover with the lid take one whistle on high. Reduce the flame to low then cook for 15 minutes. Swicth off the flame and let the cooker cool completely.
To Assemble

Heat ghee in a heavy bottom pan, add ¼ cup water, add the cooked mutton, sprinkle with garam masala powder, fried potatoes, with a generous sprinkle of mint, chopped coriander leaves. Now add the fried apricots and nuts, a sprinkle of fried onions, cover with rice followed by saffron milk. Cover tightly and keep it on high flame for 5 minutes then lower the flame and keep it on dum for 15 to 20 minutes.

Burani Boondi Raita

Ingredients
½ Cup Boondi
½ Kg Yogurt - whisked
½ Teaspoon Red chili Flakes
½ Teaspoon Cumin powder
¼ Teaspoon Black salt
For Tadka/Tempering
1 Tablespoon Desi Ghee
1 Teaspoon Mustard seeds
1 Green Chilly - chopped
6 Curry leaves- chopped
1 Tablespoon Chopped Garlic
2 Tablespoons Mint leaves
Coriander leaves for garnish
Method

In a mixing bowl add yogurt, whisk till creamy and smooth, add black salt, chili powder, roasted cumin.
Heat ghee in a pan, add mustard seeds, curry leaves, chopped green chilies, add chopped garlic, fry for a min, till garlic turns light golden, pour this tarka over the whisked yogurt, add chopped mint leaves and crisp boondi to the bowl before serving, garnish with mint leaves.

Serve Nawabi Mutton Biryani, hot garnished with chopped coriander and mint. Serve with Burani Boondi Raita.

Labels: Sunday Funday,Mutton,Biryani,Homemade Biryani Masala,Main course,Indian, Raita

• Bacon-Wrapped Sirloin Tip Roast from Palatable Pastime
• Confit Turkey Thighs from Food Lust People Love
• Dry Brined Roast Turkey Breast from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• Milk-Braised Pork Loin with Carrot Sauce from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Nawabi Mutton Biryani with Burani Boondi Raita from Sneha's Recipe
• Roasted Lemon, Herb & Lavender Spatchcocked Chicken from Culinary Cam
• Stuffed Pork Loin Roast from Sid's Sea Palm Cooking
• Stuffed Turkey Breast with Gravy from Karen's Kitchen Stories

Hot And Spicy Shrimps Pulao #FishFridayFoodie

For Fish Friday -  April the theme is "One Pan Dinners". Make a meal with fish that can be prepared in just one pan and perfect for the busy cook. Our Host of the month is Karen H Kerr.  

Made this Hot And Spicy Shrimps Pulao.  It's really hot and spicy, made a Roasted Chilly Garlic Chutney and used it to  made the pulao.  To cut down the spiciness a little, have used  Birista ( Fried Onions).

Ingredients

1.1/2 Cups Basmati Rice

1 Cup Cleaned  Shrimps

1/3 Cup Roasted Chilly Garlic Chutney

1 Teaspoon Coriander powder

1/2 Teaspoon Garam Masala powder

1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice

1/2 + 1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Cube Fish seasoning

2.1/2 to 3 Cups Water

2 Medium Onions Birista

Whole Spices

1 Stick Cinnamon

2 Cardamons

5 Black Peppercorns

3 Cloves

1 Bay Leaf

Oil as required

For Granishing

1 Green Chilly - slit and fried

Method
Wash and soak the rice for an hour.
To the chutney mix lemon juice, coriander and garam masala powder well.

For the Shrimp Marination

To the shrimps add 1/2 teaspoon salt and half of this chutney and marinate the shrimps with it.

Boil the water with the salt and seasoning cube, keep aside.

In the meantime heat oil in a deep broad pressure pan and fry the onions to make the birista. Remove them and keep aside. Keep 1/3 cup oil and take out the excess oil. In the same pan fry the prawns for 2 minutes only on medium high flame. Remove them and keep aside. Now add the fried onions (reserve a little for garnishing) and the remaining chutney, whole spices and fry till oil separates. Drain the water from the rice and add to the pan and fry for 2 to 3 minutes stirring lightly. Add the boiling water and cook on high flame till the rice comes to rolling boil. Let it boil till the water dries and water level is half inch above the rice add the shrimps and give it a quick stir. Cover the pan with a lid and take one whistle on high flame. Switch off the flame and let it rest in its heat for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes open the lid and garnish with remaining fried onions and green chilly enjoy this hot and spicy rice with raita.

For the  Roasted Chilly Garlic Chutney

Makes 1/3 Cup

Ingredients

10 Dried Red Chillies

12 Cloves Garlic

1/2 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

2 Small Tomatoes - chopped

2 Tablespoons Sesame Oil

Method

Dry roasted the garlic till light brown spot appear, take them out.  In the same pan dry roast the chillies till  till they are crisp.  Then roast the cumin seeds till it releases an aroma. In a small blender jar add all the roasted ingredients and make a powder.    Then add the tomatoes and salt,  again grind this to a fine paste, add sesame oil to make a fine paste.  Do not add water to make this chutney.  

 This chutney goes well with Kadhi or Dal Chawl. 

 Labels : Shrimps, Seafood/Fish, Fish Friday, Chutneys & Dips, One Pan Dinners, Gluten free

An InLinkz Link-up

Vegan Aloo Rice With Fruity Nutty Veg Salad- A One Pot Meal

This is quick instant one pot meal.  Quick to make and really delicious.  A complete and comforting meal. Its Vegan and Gluten free too.   
Ingredients
1.1/2 Cups Basmati Rice
1 Large Potato - scrubbed and cut into wedges
1 Large Onion - sliced
1/2 Teaspoon Red Chilly powder
1/2 Teaspoon Pav Bhaji Masala
1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric powder
1/2 Teaspoon Kasoori  Methi
3 Black Peppercorn
2 Petals Star Anise / Bardian
1 Bay Leaf
1 Veg Seasoning Cube
1/4 Teaspoon Salt or to taste
2 Tablespoons Chopped Coriander Leaves
3 Tablespoons Oil
2.1/2 Cups Hot Water

For the Fruity  Nutty Veg Salad
3 Green Grapes - cut into two
3 Black Grapes  - cut into two
2 Kiwi - cut into slices
3 Cherry Tomatoes  - cut into two
3 Iceberg Lettuce leaves -  finely chopped
1 Fried Green Chilly- de seeded and finely chopped
White Sendav Namak to taste
1 Cup Yogurt - beaten
2 Tablespoons Fried Masala Peanuts

Method
For the Fruity  Nutty  Salad

Mix all ingredients well into a serving bowl and refrigerate, till it time to serve.
For the Rice

Wash and soak the rice.  Keep aside.

In a pressure pan heat 2 tablespoons oil and fry the potato wedges on medium high flame till golden.  Remove it on to a plate with a slotted spoon.  In the same oil fry the onions till golden, remove them and keep aside.  In the same oil fry the green chilly for the salad.  Keep aside.

In the same pan add the remaining  tablespoon oil  , add the bay leaf, peppercorns and star anise, half of the fried onions and fry for a minutes.  Now add the rice , little coriander leaves, turmeric, chilly powder and pav bhaji masala fry for a minute.  Add the soup cube, kasoori methi and salt to taste.  Mix them well add hot water and close the cooker, on high flame take 2 whistles. 

Let the cooker cool, open and add the fried potatoes, coriander leaves and mix lightly with a fork.

Serve garnished with fried onions, coriander leaves.  

Enjoy with  Fruity Nutty  Salad  and roasted papad.    A delicious and comforting meal.  Very tasty.

Labels : Rice, Potato, Fried Onions, One Pot Meal, Vegetarian, Salads, Grapes, Masala Peanuts, Cherry Tomatoes, Kiwi, Iceberg Lettuce, Rice, Vegan, Gluten free

Air Fryer Chicken Biryani - Healthy and Delicious

Air Fryer Biryani is an innovative way of preparing healthy and less oil rice / food.  This is excellent for diet and health conscious people.  They need not avoid have this delicious biryani now. 

Ingredients

200 Grams Chicken boneless - cubed
1 Teaspoon Chilly powder
1 Teaspoon Biryani Masala
1/4 Teaspoon Garam masala
1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric
2 Tablespoons Mint leaves - chopped
2 Tablespoons Coriander leaves - chopped 

2 Green chillies - slit
1 Teaspoon Ginger garlic paste
1 Large Tomato - sliced
1/4 Teaspoon Shahjeera
1 Teaspoon Ghee
1 Tablespoons Lime juice
Salt to taste
1 Cup Yogurt
1/2 Cup Fried onions
A Pinch of Saffron or Tandoori color

For the Rice
1.1/2 Cups Basmati Rice
2 Cloves
1 Stick Cinnamon
1 Cardamon
1 Brown Cardamon
3 Peppercorns
1/2 Teaspoon Cumin seeds

Method

A Pinch of Saffron or Tandoori colour mixed in a tablespoon of water, keep aside.

Boil the rice with salt and spices and cook it till 70% done. Drain add a teaspoon of oil or ghee to it and keep aside to cool.

Preheat the air fryer at 180 degree C for 5 minutes.

Take a bowl and add boneless chicken, chilli powder,biryani garam masala and  turmeric  powder, chopped mint, chopped coriander, slit green chilly, ginger garlic paste, shahjeera, ghee, lime juice & salt then mix it, add half of the curd and mix it well again. Keep it aside for a hour. 

Then take the pieces of chicken with little of the marinade in a another bowl. 

Add rest of the curd to the remaining marinade and mix it well. 

In a tiffin box or a pyrex dish spread half of cooked rice, sprinkle little fried onions, half of curd mixture and arrange 2 to 3 slices of tomato repeat the process again add a layer of rice, sprinkle fired onions and arrange the slices of tomato to form layer 

add marinated chicken pieces again add fried onions also add saffron water on top of it. 

Dot it  a teaspoon butter , if you are not very diet conscious.

 Place the lid tiffin box/Pyrex dish,  keep it in the air fryer basket . 

Cook at 180 degree C for the first 10 to 12 minutes.  Then at 200 degree C for 15 to 20 minutes ( this time will vary according to the quantity  and size of the dish). After 15 minutes switch off the air fryer and let it rest in the air fryer for 5 minutes. 

Serve this hot. This biryani is slightly dry since it has less oil,ghee or butter and a healthy one with less fat and calories. Have this with raita and enjoy this healthy air fryer biryani.

Check this recipe that I made from this Biryani - 

Iraqi Parda Plau - Phyllo Pastry Wrapped Biryani

Labels : Air Fryer, Chicken, Rice, Healthy, Biryani