Kuska biryani also known as South Indian style plain biryani is a quick and easy to prepare rice dish for lunch made with basmati rice adding spices, herbs, tomato and curd and can be served with onion raita or any spicy side dish of your choice.The following ingredients are needed to prepare Kuska Biryani / Plain Biryani.
Ingredients:
Basmati rice. -1& 1/2 cup
Onion. -2
Tomato. -2
Green chilly. -3
Ginger garlic paste.-2 tsp
Garlic cloves. - 4
Curd. -2 tbsp
Cinnamon stick. -1 small
Bay leaf. -2
Cloves. -3
Cardamom. -3
Star anise. -1
Fennel seeds. .-1tsp
Chilly powder. -1tsp
Turmeric powder.-1/2 tsp
Garam masala. -1tsp
Coriander leaves. -1/4 cup
Mint leaves. -1/4 cup
Water. -2 &1/4 cup
Salt. -to taste
Ghee. -3 tbsp+1 tsp
Instructions:
Wash and soak basmati rice in water for 30 minutes. Drain water and keep aside the soaked basmati rice. Finely chop onion. Chop tomatoes into small pieces. Peel and crush garlic cloves.Slit green chillies. Finely chop mint leaves and coriander leaves. Keep aside.
Method:
1). In a wide bottom kadai heat 3 tbsp of ghee. Add fennel seeds, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, cloves, star anise and cardamom into the kadai and saute well. Add finely chopped onion and a pinch of salt into the kadai and saute well until onion becomes translucent.
2). Add slit green chillies, crushed garlic cloves, ginger garlic paste into the kadai and saute well until the raw smell goes. Add chopped tomato pieces and saute well until tomato becomes soft and mushy.
3). Add red chilly powder, turmeric powder and garam masala and saute well. Add curd and mix well. Add few chopped mint leaves and chopped coriander leaves and saute well.
4). Add soaked basmati rice into the kadai and saute well. Add required salt and 2 and 1/4 cup of water into the kadai and mix all the ingredients and keep the heat on high flame.When water starts to boil lower the flame and cover the kadai with a lid and cook for 5 to 7 minutes on very low flame until the rice is done.
5). Switch off the flame and sprinkle a few chopped mint leaves and coriander leaves into the kadai. Cover the kadai with a lid and place a heavy weight on the top of the lid for 25 to 30 minutes. Then open the lid and pour 1tsp ghee over the kuska biryani and gently mix with a fork. Transfer the kuska biryani / plain biryani to a serving plate.
A very tasty Kuska Biryani / Plain Biryani is ready to serve with onion raita or any spicy side dish of your choice.