Whats handi? Handi is a earthen pot that is used to cook or store water. The quality of handi so unique that even stale old bread will taste good in it. The porous earthen clay gives it all the aroma and taste and not only that,the shape in which it is made. That will help tp balance the heat throughout and circulate all the aroma and spices equally amougst all the things in the handi.
Handi is not easily available everywhere we are. We can definately substitute it to a dutch oven or a ceramic soup pot for our creation. Truely making Biryani is a creation as layers of gravy and aromatic rice fill the pot and slow cooked for hours to get the perfect most satisfying taste we all waited for!
Ingredients
Vegetables
carrots,beans,cauliflower, potato,peas ,paneer are some vegetables you can use for this recipe,.
peel, wash and cut the vegetables in fairly big size and eaqual size.
The masalas required for the gravy
Fried onion paste 1/2cup
Milk 1/2cup
salt
tumeric
garlic paste 3tbsp(approx 6-7 garlic pods crushed)
ginger paste 1tsp
green chillies chopped fine 5-6
chilli powder 2tsp
jeera powder 1tsp
corriander powder 2tbsp
garam masala 2tsp
heat oil in a kadai, add the jeera seeds,and vegetables, next add all the masalas one by one along with the milk and cook the vegetables until they are 3/4th done.
Rice:2cups
This is a very important stage in this recipe.
Choose excellent quality Basmati rice.( I like lal quila basmati rice)
wash the rice in cold running water for about 4-5times,
saok the rice in 2cups of cold water for about 30mins.
In a pan,add jeera,bay leaf,elaichi ,clove and add the soaked rice along with the water . add some salt for the rice and cook the rice until the water is evaporated. This will leave the rice 3/4th done.
Assembling :
In a pot or a wide open oven proof vessel with a lid, arrange the gravy in the bottom.
laye the rice on top
do the same until all the rice and gravy is utilised.
garnish the top layer with
safrron dissolved in 2tbsp warm milk
fried onions 1/2cup
corriander leaves finely chopped 1cup
chopped dry fruits (optional)
tomatoes (optional)
cover it tightly with the lid,
add 2 or 3 layers of alluminium foil over the lid.
In a preheated oven 325 place the covered pot in the middle rack.If you don't have a oven,place a tawa on medium flame and place the pot over the tawa.
slow cook for about 45mins,
rest it for 1/2hr
serve,with any raita,pickle and papad.
Authentic Handi Dum Biryani is ready!
