Kuska Biryani

I just love rice , as it is flavorful biryani or one pot khichdi. My kids also know my love for the biryani. And at home I made myself always a small pot of varieties of biryani since no one in my family likes rice, more for me, right. So when I get this recipe, I knew I have to make it and share it with you all. This is a dish comes from south India especially from Hyderabad and Tamilnadu. Its particularly prepared in south Indian Muslim community during any festival or family gatherings. In urdu kuska means plain or simple and hence as per the name its very simple preparation of rice but so flavorful . It goes with salan or Kurma or stew.  when I have craving for biryani but don't have time or don't want to go the trouble for the making it, this comes very handy. I served it with spicy dahi on the side and rice papdam. I have added coconut milk in it but you can make it with yogurt too. 

Ingredients : 

2 tbsp. Ghee

1 bay leaf

1 inch cinnamon

2 pods cardamom

1/2 tsp fennel seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 onion finely chopped

1 Tomato chopped

1/4 cup coconut milk or yogurt

1 tbsp. ginger garlic paste

1 green chili cut in few pieces

1 tbsp. turmeric powder

1 tbsp. kashmiri chili powder

1 tsp biryani masala

salt as per taste

2 tbsp. each finely chopped mint and coriander leaves

1 cup soaked basmati rice

2 cups of water

Method : 

In a pressure cooker, add ghee and sauté whole spices. 

Add onion and sauté till its pink, after that add ginger garlic paste and green chili and tomatoes.

Add all powder masala and mix it and add coconut milk  and cook it for two minutes. 

Add mint and coriander leaves  and mix it. 

Finally add rice and 2 cups of water and mix it and cover the pressure cook and cook it till 2 whistles on medium flame or till rice is cooked. 

Open it when the pressure is down.

Serve  this kuska biryani with mirchi ka salan or raita. 

I had it with spicy dahi and rice papad.