Jun 8, 2018

Ambur Brinjal Biryani

An easy comforting veggi-delight for a weekday dinner!!



Ingredients

3 cups Seeraga Samba Rice or Basmati rice
10 small Brinjal, cut in half lengthwise
1/4 cup Oil
3 Bay Leaf
2 small sticks Cinnamon
6 Cloves
2 Star Anise
1 tsp Black Jeera
8 Green Chillies, slit lengthwise
1 Large Onion, thinly sliced
Handfull of Mint chopped
1/2 Lemon Juice
4 Cups Water
Salt

For the masala 
4 Red Byadagi Chilli
6 Cloves of Garlic
1 small piece of Ginger
6 Cardamom
2 tsp Fennel seeds
1/2 cup Water

Method

  1. Wash and soak rice in water. Set aside
  2. Grind all the ingredients listed under masala into fine paste. Then set aside
  3. On a heavy bottomed skillet, heat oil until smoky. Add these together - bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, black jeera and  star annise
  4. Then add green chillies and onions. Saute until onions sweat
  5. Then add brinjal. Saute for a minute
  6. Then add the masala paste. Mix well. Cover the skillet and cook until brinjals are half cooked about 8 minutes
  7. Then add these -  water, salt, mint and lemon jucie. Bring it to boil
  8. Reduce the heat. Then add the rice. Mix well. Cover the skillet and cook in low flat for 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off heat and set aside for another 10 minutes. 
  9. Serve with cool cucumber raita 

***Tips and success factor ***
(Do not add more water, otherwise rice becomes musshy. The success of this recipe depends up how long rice soaks in water and cooking rice in low heat)