KUSKA BIRYANI (PLAIN BIRYANI)

Kuska Biryani is a common dish of Tamil Nadu, mostly prepared in Muslim homes, which is really delicious when combined with Chicken Korma, Raita or Salad and Pickle. It is of much help when I don’t have any vegetables in stock or feels lazy for chopping. This is a very simple dish with a ton of taste.

Ingredients:-

1. Basmati Rice – 2 cups

2. Onion – 2 nos., sliced

3. Tomato – 2 nos., chopped

4. Ginger garlic paste – 1 tbsp.

5. Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp.

6. Chili powder – 1 tsp.

7. Coconut milk – 3 tbsp.

8. Water – 3 cups

9. Ghee – 2 tbsp.

10. Oil – 2 tbsp.

11. Cardamom – 2 nos.

12. Cloves – 4 nos.

13. Cinnamon – 1 inch piece

To grind:

14. Green chilies – 3 nos.

15. Coriander leaves – 3 tbsp.

16. Mint leaves – 3 tbsp.

Method:-

1. Wash and soak Basmati rice for 15 minutes. Then drain it and keep aside.

2. Grind coriander and mint leaves along with green chilies to a fine paste, and keep aside.

3. Heat ghee and oil in a pressure cooker, and add cloves, cinnamon and cardamom, and saute for a minute.

4. Then add onions and saute till onion is slightly browned.

5. Now add ginger garlic paste and saute it for a minute, followed by tomato and saute well till it is mushy.

6. Add turmeric powder and red chili powder, along with grinded paste. Saute it till raw smell fades. Add required salt.

7. Now add the rice and saute it, followed by water and coconut milk.

8. Close it with a simple lid and cook till water disappears.

9. Then close it with pressure cooker lid and heat for 20 seconds more and put off the flame and leave it closed for 10-15 minutes.

10. Kuska Biryani is ready to serve hot with Raita or Salad and Pickle.