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Nawabi Tarkari Biryani

4.20 from 5 votes
Nawabi Tarkari Biryani - Plattershare - Recipes, food stories and food lovers

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As all of you would know Biryani was bought to India at the time of the Mughal Dynasty. It was already a rage back in Kabul and Afghanistan which were the roots of the Mughals and they were generous enough to share it with the supremely talented Indian cooks of the Mughal Rulers here and thus the recipe was passed on one generation after the next though nearly five centuries.
It was bought to India as a complete non vegetarian package primarily using Mutton as the one and only meat to make it.
The Indian cooks experimented with Chicken and the vegetarian pundits learnt the recipe only to substitute vegetables, paneer and soya thus making Biryani accessible for people who did not and could not eat meat. In the other countries this delicious main course is tried with Beef, Pork and even game meat! I am bringing forward one such long lost but simple recipe.
Let us understand the concept of having Biryani. Let us understand WHY the Mughals made the recipe? Leave the seasoning out and analyze the ingredients - Rice and Meat. In the desert areas where water is a prime concern and there are no fresh vegetables and fruits available, the dwellers relied on meat for their livelihood.
Instead of cooking in two separate pans, one pot cooking was preferred and lovely aromatic substances were used to make food have a lovely aroma and taste divine!
This Biryani has 2 main ingredients Potato and Carrot (denoting the meaning of the word Tarkari or vegetables). However you can add vegetables of your choice and Paneer to it to make it more palatable.
It is Dum cooked(cooked in its own steam till done) making it absolutely delicious ! The best part is that this is very mild and can be had both for lunch or dinner. It has been mentioned by the expert Chef and Restauranteur Jiggs Kalra in his award winning book: PRASHAD COOKING WITH INDIAN MASTERS
Prep Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 40 minutes
Served AsLunch
CuisineMughlai
Recipe Taste Salty, Savoury
Servings 4
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Ingredients
  

For Biryani

  • 2 cup Rice Biryani Basmati Rice
  • 2 Potatoes peeled and cubed
  • 3.5 Carrot 1 medium / 2 small/ half big, peeled and cubed
  • 2 tbsp Cashews
  • 2 tbsp Almonds blanched and peeled
  • 2 tbsp Raisins
  • 1 tbsp Cherries Dried/Glace
  • 3 tbsp Ghee plus 2 tsp for frying the nuts

The Garam Masala

  • 6 Green Cardamoms Choti Elaichi
  • 2 Black Cardamom Badi Elaichi
  • 6 Cloves
  • 2 sticks Cinnamon Dalchini
  • 2 Bay Leaf Tejpatta
  • 1 pinch Mace Powder, Javitri
  • Salt to taste

For the Masala

  • 2 Onions sliced
  • 2 Green Chilies more if you want a slightly spicy Biryani
  • 1 tbsp Ginger garlic paste
  • 1 teaspoon Turmeric Powder Haldi
  • 1 teaspoon Red Chilli Powder
  • 1 cup Yogurt thick
  • 1 teaspoon Saffron soaked in 3 tbsp warm milk
  • 3 tbsp Mint Leaves chopped finely
  • 3 tbsp Coriander Leaves chopped finely
  • Rosewater kewra Water, for sprinkling on top
  • 1/2 cup Onions (fried) sliced Onions fried in 2 tbsp Oil/Ghee till crisp and brown
  • Chapati Indian bread dough to seal the Handi
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Instructions
 

Preparing the rice

  • Wash very well and keep over the sink in a strainer or sieve.Boil 2 litres of water in a deep pan and add the whole garam masala - 4 Green Cardamoms, 2 Black Cardamoms, 4 Cloves, 2 sticks Cinnamon and 2 Bay Leaves.
  • When the water comes to a rolling boil, add the rice and cook for 3-4 minutes till 70% cooked. The rice would be soft but a little chewy and undercooked at the same time.
  • Pour back into the strainer and after the water is drained, spread on a large tray, platter or a cotton cloth to dry out excess moisture. Pick out the whole spices from the rice and leave to cool till assembling the Biryani.
    Nawabi Tarkari Biryani - Plattershare - Recipes, food stories and food lovers

Preparing the garnish

  • Add 1/2 cup of Yogurt to the Saffron milk and mix well. Mix the Coriander and Mint Leaves. Keep all the garnishing including Rose/Kewra water and the fried onions in one place to be used during the assembling of the Biryani.

Making the masala

  • Heat 2 tsp Oil in a pan and fry the Cashewnuts, blanched Almonds and Raisins till fragrant. Keep aside. Heat Ghee in a Biryani Handi or a pan with a tight fitting lid and add the remaining whole spices.
  • When they crackle add the Onions and fry till translucent. Then add the Green Chilies and Ginger-Garlic paste and sauté on medium heat till the paste is fried and Onions are brown.
    Nawabi Tarkari Biryani - Plattershare - Recipes, food stories and food lovers
  • Mix in the Turmeric and Red Chili powders and stir well and then add the 1/2 cup Yogurt. Add around 2/3 cup water and close the lid. Cook for 5-7 minutes till the water dries up and everything is amalgamated and cooked nicely.
  • Take off heat for assembling the Biryani.

Assembling the Biryani

  • In the Handi with the cooked Masala, add half of the coriander-mint leaves, saffron yogurt and 1/3 of fried Onions. Put 1/2 of the rice over this and spread well to cover the surface of the vegetables and garnishing.
  • Now over this rice layer, put the rest of the saffron yogurt mix,1/3 of the fried Onions and coriander-mint leaves. Now ladle the rest of the rice over this and garnish with the remaining fried Onions and Rose/Kewra Water.
    Nawabi Tarkari Biryani - Plattershare - Recipes, food stories and food lovers
  • Roll out the dough into a long cylinder and wrap it around the rim of the lid. Set it firmly on the Handi to seal it tight.
  • Heat a tava /griddle on medium heat and put the handi on it. Cook for 15 - 20 minutes on the same heat. Take off heat after the mentioned time and cool for 10-15 minutes.
  • Open the sealed lid with a knife and there you have lovely, aromatic Biryani. Serve warm with Raita or any curry.
    Nawabi Tarkari Biryani - Plattershare - Recipes, food stories and food lovers

Notes

I would like to point out to first time makers and novel cooks a few facts and must do’s about Biryani. Please understand that it is not rocket science. However :
  • Keeping everything prepared beforehand as in chopped vegetables, soaked saffron and assembled spices is very important.
  • You may use branded Biryani rice(available in plenty) or use loose long grained Basmati which is as good. However please pick the rice for any minute stones or other dirt particles and wash it thoroughly.
  • You can use a variety of vegetables like Peas, Beans or seasonal produce whatever you have in your storage.
  • You may use a Biryani Handi or Pot which are easily available in the market or online as well. However if you do not have a Handi or Pot especially for Biryani then you can use any other pot with a tight fitting lid. Please ensure that the pot lid should not have a vent for steam to escape. We want to cook the rice in its own steam and this would make it impossible.
WARNING – Please do not jam the vents with any object as it might cause an explosion.
  • If you use a non stick pot with a steel lid then put it on a tava /griddle on the stove top. If you are using a glass casserole then use the oven Do NOT put the non stick pan into the oven.
  • You can use Kewra or Rose water to flavour the Biryani. Please do not buy cosmetic related products as they are not edible. You will get edible Kewra and Rose water online or in big stores.
Also See:

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Please appreciate the author by voting!

4.20 from 5 votes

Recipe Nutrition

Calories: 722 kcal | Carbohydrates: 124 g | Protein: 15 g | Fat: 19 g | Saturated Fat: 9 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7 g | Cholesterol: 37 mg | Sodium: 170 mg | Potassium: 1172 mg | Fiber: 11 g | Sugar: 11 g | Vitamin A: 9322 IU | Vitamin C: 36 mg | Calcium: 213 mg | Iron: 4 mg
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Amrita Iyer
Amrita Iyer

I am a passionate foodie who loves to cook, serve and love to see people relishing my creations. Since the time I was small I used to wonder about the 'how' of things in the kitchen.

Then when I finally ventured as an unprofessional kitchen helper for my late grand-mother (a par excellent cook in her own generation) I was fascinated by the amount of stuff you could do to a simple milk and rice to form a most yummy pudding.

Here I am sharing my recipes with a will to learn from some and educate others as well!

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