Shrimp Biryani

This is another recipe sent to me by my pachi (aayi’s sister). I hardly buy shrimp here as we are not big fans of the huge fresh shrimp or the frozen ones that are available in small sizes. I am yet to find small fresh ones – probably I need to check out Asian markets sometime. So this recipe stayed in my inbox for a long time. Finally last week, I prepared this. I wasn’t sure how Ishaan – who had never tasted shrimp before or V – who is not fan of any seafood biryanis, would take it. But both of them loved it. So I am going to make this again soon. The potato slices at the bottom give a great taste to it.

I loved the biryani masala used in this. So I made a big batch and refrigerated it. I have used this masala for other biryanis also, it turns out great.

For rice:
10-15 medium size shrimp
2 sliced potatoes
2 cups basmati rice
4cups water
4 cloves
2 cardamoms
3-4 Pepper
1 bay leaf
1" cinnamon
2-3 tbl spn chopped coriander leaves
1 tbl spn fried cashews (optional)
Salt

For gravy:
1 and half cup chopped onion
1 tea spn ginger garlic paste
1 cup tomato
1 tea spn chilli powder
A pinch turmeric

Biryani masala:
1 tea spn Cumin
1" cinnamon
4 Pepper
2 cardamom
A small piece nutmeg
2 mace (japatri)
3 cloves
2-3 red chillies
1 bay leaf
1 tea spn coriander
1/2 tea spn fenugreek(methi) seeds
1 black cardamom (I did not use this)

Method:
Roast the biryani masala ingredients and powder it.
Heat oil, add cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, pepper, bay leaf, rice and fry. Add 4 cups hot water and prepare rice.
To sliced potato add turmeric, red chilly powder.
Heat oil add ginger garlic paste and cut onions and tomatoes, red chilli powder, turmeric, biryani powder and fry. Add prawns and one cup water and cook till done. Now gravy is ready.
Add oil in thick bottomed pan. Arrange the potato slices in the pan. Add one layer of rice. Add gravy, add fried onions. Again add rice, gravy, and fried onions in layers. For garnishing add fried onions, fried cashew nuts and cut coriander leaves. Cook for 15mins.

Serve hot.

Serves : 4
Preparation time : 45mins

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