Simple Veg Biryani Recipe | Easy Indian Dinner Recipes

Learn how to prepare simple Veg biryani at home. This tasty and easy rice dish is best enjoyed with plain yogurt, raita, pickles or chutney. Complete meal in itself, this biryani recipe is not only delicious but quick and super easy to make.

Ingredients:

1.5 cup rice
2 tbsp oil
2 tbsp butter
1 bay leaf
1 cinnamon stick
2 green cardamom
1 black cardamom
4 cloves
4 peppercorns
1 small onion
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp turmeric
Salt per taste (may we recommend 1.5 tsp)
1 green chilli
1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
Vegetables of your choice (2 cups)
2-3 stalks of cilantro leaves for garnish
1/2 cup well beaten plain yogurt

Method:

1. Soak rice in cold water for atleast 10 mins.
2. In a pot, heat 2 tbsp of oil and fry whole spices (Bay leaf, cardamoms, cinnamon stick, peppercorn and cloves) for atleasta minute.
3. Add double the quantity of water in the pot and bring it to boil. Once it starts boiling, add rice and cook until water evaporates and rice are done. (about 10 mins or so)
4. Set rice aside. While the rice is cooking, in a pan heat 2 tbsp butter and fry 1/4 tsp cumin seeds. After 30 secs, add onions, green chilli, turmeric, paprika, salt and ginger garlic paste. Saute for 2-3 mins.
5. Add vegetables of your choice and further fry for 4-5 mins. Add plain yogurt. Mix well and cook along with vegetables until they are done.
6. Layer rice and vegetables one after the other in a deep dish or casserole. Garnish with cilantro leaves and gently mix.
Serve hot with plain yogurt or raita, pickles or chutney.

Two Amazing Raita recipes

1. Aloo Ka Raita
2. Ghiya Ka Raita

Holi snacks – Moong Dal Poori Recipe(Stuffed Indian Bread)

Here is a great recipe for stuffed poori that is perfect for weekend brunch. Pair it with Aloo Curry and you have a fantastic lunch ready.

Ingredients/Method

Oil for frying
For Stuffing: 1/2 cup moong dal
Salt per taste ( 1 tsp suggested)
1/2 tsp paprika
Turmeric
Fennel seeds
2-3 tbsp oil
( water as required)

For Dough
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
2 tbsp ghee and Water to knead the dough
Pinch of salt

Method:
Prepare the dough by mixing dough ingredients. Let dough stand for 30 mins.
Prepare the stuffing by grinding pre soaked moong daal. Fry it in a pan with hot oil and spices until it dries out and turns a shade darker.

When ready to make the poori, heat oil for deep frying in a pot. Take small golf ball size dough portion. Flatten it out with a rolling pin. Fill it with stuffing and close it. Flatten it out again and fry in hot oil.

20 Must have Indian spices in your Pantry

I love working with Indian Spices. They inspire me on a boring day, motivate me to reach heights of culinary excellence and add color in my life. If you want to cook Indian food then 20 must have Indian spices for your pantry are:

1. Bay Leaves
2. Cinnamon
3. Cloves
4. Garam Masala
5. Mustard Seeds
6. Carom/Bishop weeds (Ajwain)
7. Cumin Seeds
8. Coriander Powder
9. Green Cardamom
10. Curry Leaves
11. Saffron
12. Turmeric
13. Mango Powder (amchur)
14. Fenugreek leaves (Kasoori Methi)
15. Red Chilli powder
16. Nutmeg
17. Moti Elaichi (Black cardamom)
18. Asafoetida (hing)
19. Black Pepper (Kali mirch)
20. Fennel seeds (Saunf)

So, what’s your favourite spice?

India wins Cricket World Cup 2011- Time to celebrate

Tonight was a great night in India’s cricket history. Sachin Tendulkar was finally able to hold world cup in his hands. India won 2011 Cricket world cup by beating Sri Lanka with 6 wickets. Team India under the leadership of MS Dhoni and training of Gary Kirsten proved that they deserved the title of world champions. What a great performance by Gautam Gambir, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh. Sri Lanka was a solid competitor and performed well too. However, in the end it’s the win that matters.

Now, that we’ve won the world cup, it’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy the victory. Let’s celebrate this win with some great food. How about savory butter chicken or shrimp curry. Well, if you want to try something vegetarian then try paneer chilli or perhaps Punjabi Chole.My favourite is Aloo Paranthas so I am gonna cook some and watch the highlights of ICC world cup 2011.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COg_NXMz4u4?rel=0&w=480&h=390]