Prawn Biryani

Prawn Biryani - Malabar Style

Ingredients:
Basmati Rice - 3cups
Prawns(Whole) - 1kg
Onion, sliced thinly - 3nos.
Tomatoes, chopped - 2nos.
Lemon juice - 2tbsp
Coriander leaves, chopped - 1 bunch
Mint leaves, chopped - small bunch
Whole spices for rice - cardamom - 5, cinnamon - 2" , cloves - 4, star anise -1 & bay leaves - 2
Chilli Powder - 1tsp
Biryani Masala powder- 11/2tsp
(Biryani Masala powder -
Dry roast & grind to a fine powder the following:-
Cardamom-3, Cinnamon(1" stick) -2, Cloves-4,
Nutmeg-quarter, Mace-3
Fennel seed-1/2tsp, Shahjeera-1/2tsp, Cumin seed-1/2 tsp)
Ghee/Butter - 1tbsp+1tbsp
Oil as needed
Salt as needed

For Marinade
Chilli powder - 1tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/2tsp
Pepper powder - 1/2tsp
Salt as needed

For Grinding
Green chillies - 5nos.
Garlic,chopped - 11/2tbsp
Ginger,chopped - 11/2tbsp
Coconut grated- 3tbsp
Curd - 4tbsp

For Garnish
Onion - 1nos.
Cashew nuts - few
Raisins - few

Method:

Soak rice in water for half an hour. Rinse and drain. Heat 1tbsp of ghee. Add the whole spices and fry for a minute. Add the drained rice & roast it for few minutes. Add 6 cups of boiling water & salt and cook rice till done. Spread rice in a flat plate & sprinkle lemon juice.

Clean & de-vein the prawns. Marinate in chilli, turmeric, pepper powders & salt for 30 min.
Grind together green chillies, garlic, ginger and grated coconut into a coarse paste adding curd.

Fry raisins and cashew nuts in ghee, till brown and keep aside. Carmelise one onion(thinly sliced for garnish) & keep aside. In the same pan fry the marinated prawns to a golden tinge. Keep aside a few prawns for garnishing.

To the fried prawns, in the same oil, add 3 onions chopped. Fry till the onions turn translucent. Add tomato, ground paste, chopped coriander leaves and mint leaves and the lemon juice. Cook covered for a few minutes. Then open cook till the masala reduces in quantity. Add chilli powder. Check for salt. Finally add the Biryani Masala & switch off the heat.

In a microwave safe dish, spread half of the rice, layer the prawn masala on top and layer the remaining rice on it. Cover & microwave for 4 min on high. Alternately you can bake it for 15-30 min at 150 deg. celsius. Mix thoroughly and serve garnished with fried prawns,roasted cashews,raisins and caramelized onion and serve hot with onion raita & pickle.

Other Related Recipes:
Malabar Chicken Biryani
Unnakka Chemeen Chammanthi/Dried Shrimp Chutney

Mathi Vatichathu

Mathi Vatichathu - Sardines cooked dry

Ingredients:
Sardines/Mathi/Chaala - 1/2kg
Ginger, julienned - 1/2tsp
Garlic cloves, crushed/sliced/chopped - 2 tsp
Curry leaves - few
Cocum, washed, soaked and shredded in water - 3nos.
Coconut oil/refined vegetable oil - 1/2cup
Water - 1/2cup
Salt to taste

For masala:
Red chillies - 10nos.
Fenugreek seeds - 1/8 tsp
Peppercorns - 8nos.
Turmeric powder - 1/2tsp
Button onions, sliced - 1/2cup

Method:

Clean the sardines & make gashes on both sides of the fish.

Coarsely grind ingredients for masala. Mix the ground ingredients with the coconut oil, shredded cocum, ginger, garlic & curry leaves and salt.

Grease an earthenware vessel(Mud pot) with coconut oil and layer the fish and the mixed masala alternately; finish with a layer of masala on top.Add water to cook the fish and bring to boil.Simmer over low heat till dry. Serve hot.

Other Related Recipes:
Fish Curry with Mangoes

Mussel/Kadukka Fry

Mussel/Kadukka Fry

Fish Curry with Mango

Fish Curry with Mango

Ingredients:

Fish(Ayila) - 1 kg

Grated Coconut - 1 cup

Green Mango - 1nos

Red Chilli powder - 4-5tsp

Turmeric powder - 1/2tsp

Shallots - 4-5nos.

Ginger - 1"

Curry leaves few

Coconut oil - as needed

Salt to taste

Method:

Clean & cut the fish. Make a paste of chilli powder & turmeric powder. Extract milk out of the grated coconut. To this add the paste and mix well. Add water if needed. Bring to boil and add the sliced mangoes. Add salt & cook covered for 5 min.

At this stage add the fish. When the fish is almost cooked, add crushed ginger & shallots. Also, add the curry leaves and a few tablespoons of coconut oil.

Cook for few more minutes & switch of the flame. Serve hot with rice or kappa.

Dry Chemeen Chammanthi

Dry Chemmeen Chammanthi - Goes well with rice..........

Ingredients:

• Unnaka Chemeen/Dry shrimps - 1/2 cup ( heads,legs & tails removed)
• Coconut Grated - 2 tbsp
• Dry Red Chillies - 1 nos.(more if u want it hot...)
• Onion - 1 nos.
• Ginger - 1/2 inch piece
• Coconut oil - 1/2 tbsp (optional)
• Salt to taste

Method:

Dry roast the prawns & red chillies in a pan. Roast the onion with the skin on(you can do this by keeping it right over the burner flame). After cooling, grind all to a coarse to fine paste. Shape it like balls & serve with rice.

Other Related Recipes:
Prawn Biryani