Kerala Style Prawn Biryani Or Chemmen Biryani

  First soak the saffron into the warm milk and keep aside for later use.

  Take the prawns, deshelled, divined and wash them. Add 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, salt & lemon juice and keep aside.

  Now make smooth paste of tomato, green chili, curry leaves from 1 spring & chopped coconut in a small grinder and keep aside.

Prepare The Prawn Masala :

  Heat oil in a pan, fry the prawns carefully, take them out of the pan and keep aside.

  Now in the same oil add rest of the curry leaves, black mustard seeds. When they will start splatters add the chopped onion, some salt & fry them till the onion looks golden brown.

  Add ginger & garlic paste, sprinkle some water and fry till the raw smell of garlic goes off.

  Now add turmeric, red chili & cumin powder, again sprinkle some water and fry everything till oil oozes from the spices.

  Now add the coconut, curry leaves, green chili & tomato paste into the pan and stir well. Stir till oil separates from the masala.

  Add chopped cilantro, mint leaves & fried prawns to the pan and mix with the masala very carefully.

  When everything is mixed well turn off the heat.

  While the prawn masala was getting ready, wash the rice under tap water and soak in the water for 30 minutes.

Prepare The Biryani Rice :

  Boil enough water in a large pot. Add everything written under the heading "For the rice" except rice.

  While the water will start boiling add the rice and cook till 80% cooked. Now train the rice in a large pasta strainer and spread the strained rice on a large tray.

Making The Biryani In Handi/Dutch Oven

  Take a handi/dutch oven, grease the bottom with some ghee or butter, spread half of the rice at the bottom, sprinkle some ghee on the rice, add all the prawn mixture on the rice bed, add rest of the rice, ghee and saffron soaked milk on the top, seal the handi/dutch oven with a air tight lid and atta dough.

  Put the handi/dutch oven on a pan with some water in it on medium heat for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes turn off the heat, stand the biryani for atleast 30 minutes.

  Cut the seal, serve the biryani with raita.

Making The Biryani In Pressure Cooker

  You can prepare this biryani in Pressure Cooker also. For Pressure Cooker process you don't need to cook the rice before.Just heat 1 tablespoon of ghee in a Pressure Cooker and add Cloves 5 to 6, Green cardamom pods 5 to 6, Cinnamon stick 1" long stick , Black cardamom 2, Shah Jeera 1 tablespoon and some salt and fry till a nice aroma comes from the whole spices.

  Now add the soaked rice to the Cooker and fry for a minute. Add the cooked Prawn along with the masala to the Pressure Cooker.

  Add 2 1/2 cup of water into the Pressure Cooker. Pressure cook the Biryani for 2 whistle on High heat. Turn off the oven and let the pressure release itself .

  When all the pressure is released by itself, open the lid and your Biryani is ready to serve

  If you like my recipes, go to my Facebook Page & like my page for regular updates.