Fish Biriyani

Ingredients for Rice:

Basmati rice: 3 cups

Cloves: 10

Cinnamon stick: 2 inch piece

Cardamom: 5

Bay leaves: 3

Star Anise: 2

Fennel Seeds: ½ tsp

Salt and Ghee

Marinade:

Yogurt: 3 Tbsp

Coriander Powder: 3 tsp

Chilli Powder: 2 Tbsp

Turmeric Powder: ½ tsp

Pepper Powder1 Tbsp

Ginger-Garlic Paste: 1 Tbsp

Salt: To-taste

Ingredients for Fish Masala:

Fish: 10 medium-sized pieces

Pearl Onion: 20, crushed

Ginger: 3 inch piece, crushed

Garlic: 5, crushed

Green Chillies: 5, crushed

Tomato: 1 large, chopped

Cilantro: ½ cup, chopped

Mint leaves: ½ cup chopped

Curry leaves: 1 sprig

Coriander Powder: 1 tsp

Fennel Powder: 2 tsp

Turmeric Powder: ½ tsp

Chilli Powder: 1 tsp

Pepper Powder: ½ tsp

Garam Masala: ½ tsp

Biriyani Masala Powder: 1 ½ Tbsp

Fennel seeds: 1 tsp

Star anise: 1

Cardamom: 3

Cinnamon Stick: 1 inch piece

Cloves: 5

(Crush pearl onions, ginger, garlic, green chillies, fennel seeds, star anise, cardamom, cinnamon stick, and cloves together with a mortar and pestel)

Salt and Ghee (Oil)

Fried cashews and raisins: ½ cup (for garnish)

Method (Rice):

• Wash and soak basmati rice for 30 minutes
• In a thick bottom vessel heat some ghee and fry cloves, cardamom, bay leaves, cinnamon, star anise, and fennel for a minute or two
• Add the rice and enough salt and water
• Once the rice is cooked, drain it and let it cool

Method (Fish):

• Marinate fish pieces using the ingredients under marinade and let it marinade for 2 hours in the fridge
• In a pan shallow fry the fish in oil and let the excess oil drain using a paper towel
• In a pan heat ghee and add the crushed onion-spice mix and sauté for about 4-5 minutes in medium heat
• Add curry leaves and tomatoes until tomatoes become soft
• Add all the powders listed under Ingredients for Fish Masala and sauté for another 3-4 minutes
• Add ¾ cup of water, salt, cilantro, and mint leaves and let it boil
• Add the fried fish pieces and coat it well with the masala and turn off the heat
• Layer rice and fish and pour gravy over rice and garnish it with fried cashew and raisins
• Serve hot with raita and pickle!!!