Monday, December 20, 2010

Prawn / Chemmeen Biriyani

Prawn / Chemmeen Biriyani

Ingredients ( Serves 3 - 4)

 

Marinade

  1. Prawns - 30 - 35 ( Around 400 g)
  2. Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
  3. Chilly powder - 1 tsp
  4. Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
  5. Salt - As required

For the masala

  1. Onion - 1 large, thinly sliced
  2. Tomato - 1 medium, chopped
  3. Fresh ginger-garlic paste - 2 - 3  tsp
  4. Green chillies - 7 - 8, seeded
  5. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
  6. Chilly powder - 1/4 tsp
  7. Coriander powder - 2tsp
  8. Garam masala - 1.5 tsp
  9. Mint leaves - 1/4 cup, chopped
  10. Cilantro - 1/4 cup, chopped
  11. Salt - To taste
  12. Oil - As required

Method

1. Clean and wash the prawns. Marinate the prawns with the ingredients under marinade for at least 2 hrs in a refrigerator. Shallow fry the marinated prawns in oil until done. It won’t take more than 3 - 4 minutes on each side, at medium-low heat. Drain on to a paper towel.

Prawns

 

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2. In the same pan, add thinly sliced onions. Stir-fry until they turn light brown at medium heat. Now add ginger-garlic paste and green chillies. Stir fry for a few more minutes. Add turmeric powder, chilly powder, coriander powder and garam masala. Stir-fry for a few seconds and add the chopped tomatoes. Cook until the tomatoes get mashed up. Now add 1/2 cup water and mix well. Bring to a boil and add the fried prawns. Cook for a minute and add the chopped cilantro and mint. Taste check for salt. Switch off.

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Cooking Rice

Basmati rice - 2 cups

    To cook rice I usually follow the draining method. Soak the basmati rice for around 30 mts. Drain and keep aside. Boil water in a deep vessel. To the boiling water add ghee – 2 tsp, whole spices (peppercorns- 10, cloves – 6, cardamoms - 2, bay leaves-2, cinnamon - 2, fennel seeds – half tsp, star anise- 2 and mace - 3). I usually add lots of whole spices. Add enough salt. The water should be slightly salty. Now add the soaked rice and cook it to the perfect consistency. It will take around 15 - 20 mts at medium heat.  Drain the water and allow the rice to cool.

To Garnish

Onion - 1 medium, sliced very thin and deep fried in oil/ghee till brown

Cashews and raisins - 1/4 cup deep-fried in oil / ghee

Cilantro - 1/2 cup

Mint - 1/2 cup

Layering

For layering you need a cookware which can be put on stove or which is oven-safe.

Smear the base of the cookware with ghee. Then add the fried onions, cilantro, cashews, raisins, mint leaves and prawn masala. Now add the cooked rice and repeat the process. You can sprinkle some fennel powder or biriyani masala and a little ghee on each layer. The topmost layer should be that of rice with the items under garnish.  Now seal the cookware with an aluminium foil (so that moisture won’t escape), cover with its lid and bake it at 350 F for around 10 - 15 mts (depending on the cookware you use). If you are planning to keep it for long, cook the rice only till it is 95% done or so. If you are using stovetop keep it at low flame for around 5 - 10 mts. Serve hot with boiled eggs, biriyani chammanthi, raita, pappad and lemon pickle. This recipe serves around 3-4 people.

Prawn / Chemmeen Biriyani

17 comments:

  1. Adipoli biriyani. Looks awesome.

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  2. wow drooling here......looks so tempting....

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  3. Aaa fresh chemmen kanditte eniku sahikanilla ttto..Adipoli biriyani.You are apro in making biriyanis alle..Tooo good tto...

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  4. wow...yummy n inviting chemmen biriyani..my all time fav...sumtimes my rice overcook ..or less cook..urs is truly perfect!

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  5. Wat a delectable and droolworthy briyani, extremely inviting..

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  6. Kandittu sahikunilla..adipoli biryani..so good.

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  7. looks perfect.. very tempting clicks !!

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  8. thts a flavorful biryani...can smell the spices....looks mindblowing....

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  9. adipoli prawn biryani....very yummy and delicious...beautiful presentation

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  10. ചെമ്മീന്‍ ബിരിയാണി!!! കല്യാണികുട്ടിക്ക് എല്ലാം മിസ്സി :(

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  11. superb biriyani....looks so yummy...loved it..

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  12. oh kandittu vayil ninnum vellam varunnu

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  13. adipoli aayittunde... kothi sahikkaan vayya..

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  14. I totally love this....so many prawns there....yum! I can eat a big plate :D Happy Holidays!

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