KESAR PULAO

Ingredients:

1cup long grain (basmati) Rice
1cup Sugar (or according to taste)
3-4 Cardamom (green elaichi, split & crushed)
Few strands of Saffron (kesar)
4 cloves
11/2tbsp Mixed Dry fruits (Pista, cashewnut, almond)chopped
1tsp Raisins
a Pinch of saffron (kesar)color dissolved in 2tsp warm water
2 tbsp pure ghee
1 tbsp mustard seeds
silver paper (varak)
Water for boiling rice.

How to make kesar (saffron) rice:

  • Wash soak and drain rice.
  • Bring water to boil and add the rice and simmer the flame.
  • When rice is half done add sugar (dissolved in little water) and ghee.
  • When fully done add the saffron, cardamom, cloves and half of the dry fruit.
  • Stir gently and cover for 10 minutes.
  • Garnish it with remaining dry fruit and silver paper.
  • Serve the kesar pulao fresh and hot.

VEGETABLE BIRYANI

Ingredients:

2 cups Basmati Rice
1 cup Mixed Vgetable (cauliflower, potato, carrot, french beans)
150 gms Green Peas
3 Finely Sliced Onion
2 Finely Sliced Green Chillies
Salt to taste
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
2 tsp Cinnamon(dalchini), Caraway Seeds(zeera)
4 Cloves (laung)
1/2 tsp Black Pepper Powder
4 Tomato
1/2 cup Yogurt (curd)
4 tbsp Vegetable Oil
1/2 tsp Mustard Seeds
3 tbsp Dry Fruits (cashew nuts, raisin)

How to make vegitable biryani :

  • Wash the basmati rice well before cooking.Then take rice with 3-3/4 cup water and a little salt added to it and 2 tbsp of dry fruits.Cook it in pressure cooker or in a pan or microwave.
  • Cut all the vegetables into small thin pieces and fry each one of it separately in oil. Fry the green peas also.
  • Take 1 tblsp oil in a pan and add mustard seeds, green chilli, cinnamon and caraway seeds powder, cloves, black pepper powder and stir for about half minute. Then add onions and saute them for a minute ot till they get pink in color.
  • Add salt and red chilli powder and stir.
  • Add fine chopped tomatoes and fry till they are properly cooked.
  • Take the yogurt and make it fine by putting in a blender for just 2 rotations. Add this fine yogurt and stir well.Heat it for about 10 seconds.
  • Add all the fried vegetables.
  • Add the cooked rice and mix well with very light hands so that the rice grain doesn't break. Cook for about 3 minutes.
  • Take this vegetable biryani out in a rice serving dish.
  • Garnish with dry fruits and green coriander leaves.
  • Serve the vegetable (veg ) biryani hot with raita and pickle.