Kesar Briyani

Kesar  Briyani:

Basmathi rice --  1 cup  ( soak in water for 15 mts )

Ghee -- 3 tbsp 

Oil -- 3 tbsp 

curd -- 1/4 cup

Cumin -- 1/2 tsp

Turmeric powder -- 1/4 tsp

Ginger --  1/2 tsp

Green chilly -- 2 ( slit in between )

Dhaniya powder --  1 tsp

Red chilly powder -- 3/4 tsp

salt --  as per taste

Saffron / Kesar --  10 threads

cashew --  2 tbsp

Bay leaf --  1

Black Cardamom --- 2

Raisins --  1 tbsp

For  Masala powder (  grind coarsely )

Cinnamon --  1/2 inch

Nutmeg --  2 pinch

Clove -  4 or 5

Green cardamom -- 3

Black  pepper -- 8

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Chopped Veg You need : 

Cauliflower -- 1 cup

Capsicum -- 1

Carrot -- 1

Beans -- 10

Potato -- 2

Tomato -- 2

Onion -- 1

Pudhina leaves --  10

Coriander leaves --  2 tbsp

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Method:  Pour oil in a big nonn-stick pan and fry cumin, ginger, green chillies, dhaniya powder one by one.... add onion and fry nicely.  After onions gets nicely fried add turmeric powder and give a stir and add tomato and fry till it gets soft.   Add salt, chilly powder, coarsely grinded masala powder  and fry for few more mts.

     Add chopped vegtables and fry in high flame for 2 mts.   To this add curd and fry for a minute...

  Keep it aside.

    Using same pan, add 1 + 1/2 cups of water, bay leaf, black cardamom powder, soaked rice and cook with the lid closed....

When it is half done, ... add ghee, veg masala and mix nicely.  Sprinkle  saffron, cashews, raisins, pudhina and coriander leaves and cook the rice till it is done.  Cook with the tight lid , to keep lock the flavors in rice.   

Very flavorful Kesar Briyani is ready to serve with Raitha, Papad.