Chole keema dum handi biriyani

My love for biriyani..n specially nonveg is unending..as the saying goes.."If you really need to reach a  man's heart it goes through his tummy"...Made this chole keema dum handi biriyani for my Hubby!!

 It starts with making of biriyani masala(for me i love making fresh masalas at home).

3-4 cardamom,2 cinnamon sticks,2 bay leaf,2-3 sukhi mirchi,1tbsp sabut jeera,dhania,fennel,2-3 cloves,1 nutmeg,1 star anise,1 jaiphal,2 badi elaichi or black cardamom..roast on low flame and grind it..keep it ina air tight container for future use.

 take 2 cups of basmati rice,par boil with minimal water with1 drop of kewra water or white rose water.

method:deep fry 2 onions and keep aside...now ina kadhai/pan/handi put 2 tbsp of oil and 1 tbsp of ghee..put 2 elaichi 1 dalchini and 2 bay leaf with 5-6 pods of kali mirch,when it splutters add 2sliced onions,when d onion is golden fried add 3 tbsp of ginger garlic paste,add red chilli powder jeera n dhania powder and turmeric powder and mix it properly..let all d masalas fry for some time,now add 2 cups of boiled chick peas/kabuli chana and 2 cups of keema(i used chicken keema..one can use mutton keema but it shud b boiled in cooker for 2 whistles atleast),now mix d both ,add salt accordingly and add coriander and pudina paste 3 tbsp ,mix it n den add 2 tbsp of d homemade biriyani masala and cover d lid for 5 mins or till masalas release oil..now add 1 cup of water and let it cook for 5-7 mins...aftr 5-7 mins open d lid n switch of d gas...now in a handi/pot ..first layer d bottom with biriyani mix,now add laddles of rice,spread some golden fried onions and pudina leaves,again give a layer of masala,rice topped with onions nd pudina leaves..make a small hole in d rice n add saffronwater (kesar dipped in warm water)..seal it with aluminium foil and seal d sides with atta.

keep d handi/pot on a large pan and keep it on low flame for 20 mins or so...serve it with any kind of raita...chole keema dum handi biriyani ..bingo

Tawa Paneer

I had got some paneer a day back..Din't know what to make and dint wanted any tamjham...It crossed my mind (of tawa paneer) that  I saw in newspaper in food column some months back.Why not make it..So here's my tawa paneer with bajre ki roti/rotlas with cucumber onion salad and nevertheless lahsun-groundnut chutney.

Ingredients For Tawa paneer:
1.Carom seeds n Fennel seeds- 1 tbsp each.
2. 200gms paneer/cottage cheese.
3.1 green capsicum/bell pepper-chopped
4.2 medium onions-chopped and green chillies chopped (i used 2)
5.3 tomatoes blanched and pureed.
6.crushed adrak-lahsun in mortar n pestle or ginger-garic paste.
7.1tbsp each-turmeric powder,dhania powder,red chilly powder,amchur powder,garam masala(i used home made one).
8.Coriander leaves for garnishing.
9.2 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp ghee/butter.

Method:

Heat 2 tbsp of oil and 1 tbsp ghee/butter on a tawa.

Add fennel seeds and carom seeds .Wait till they splutter.

Now add onions and fry for sometime.

Now add crushed ginger-garlic or ginger-garlic paste and chopped capsicum and chopped green chillies and fry for some more time.

Add turmeric powder,dhania powder,red chilly powder,amchur n garam masala powder and saute it for 3 mins.

Now add the tomato puree(My tomatoes were not so red ) and mix it well..add salt accordingly and cook on low flame till oil comes out from the masala.Add some water if the gravy becomes too dry.

Add the cottage cheese/paneer and mix it nicely ..Cook for 3 mins more till d gravy coats the paneer properly .Switch off the gas and garnish with coriander leaves.Serve hot.

It goes best with rotis/rotlas/paranthas.