Egg Dum Biryani

Egg Dum Biryani
Good for unexpected guests or for a party dish or even Picnic.

Serves - 2

For Boiling Eggs:

Eggs - 4 

Boil eggs in water with pinch of salt. Remove shells once boiled and cooled. Put few slits around the egg, but not cutting through.

For Deep Fried Onions:

Onions - 2 small (sliced thinly)

Oil - 4 tbsp

Heat oil in a deep flat nonstick pan on low heat, once hot add onions and fry until golden color. Remove with the slotted spoon. Keep aside. 

For Rice:

Whole Garam masala : {2 Cloves, 2 Green Cardamom, 1 inch Cinnamon, 1 Star anise, bit of Daghad phool or Bujju puvvu, 3-4 Bay leaves, 1 tsp Shahjeera}

Green chillies - 5 no.

Mint leaves - few

Ginger Garlic paste - 1/4 tsp

Basmati Rice - 3 rice cups

Water - 5 rice cups

Salt - 1 and 1/2 tsp

Heat the same above pan with oil left behind, add whole spices and fry, add few mint leaves, gg paste, and green chillies fry lightly. add immediately washed and drained rice. stir gently and fry until water evaporates. now add water (normal tap water) and salt stir and keep covered and cook until rice is 75 % cooked. Drain immediately in a colander, please keep a bowl under neath to reserve liquid (read tips) and keep aside.

(you have to start making curry when rice is boiling, ok)

For Curry:

Oil - 2 tbsp

Whole Masalas: {5 Cloves, 4 Green Cardamom, 1 Black Cardamom, 1 inch Cinnamon, 2 Mace or Javithri, 1 Bay leaf.}

Cashews - handful

Onions - 1 large (chopped finely)

Mint leaves - few

Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp

Spice powders: {1 tsp Chilli powder (or 1/2 tsp Cayenne + 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder), 2 tsp Coriander powder, 1/2 tsp Home Made Masala powder (refer kodi kura recipe, minus star anise), 1/2 tsp Turmeric.}

Salt - 1/2 tsp

Whole tomatoes - 2 m (chopped)

Heat oil in a deep flat medium nonstick pan on low heat, once hot add whole spices, fry and add cashews fry until golden color. 

Add chopped onions, along with few mint leaves and fry light golden color.

Add gg paste and fry for few mins. add spice powders and fry for few secs with salt.

Add chopped tomato, mix well and cover and cook until mushy. add slit eggs, mix well and cook until oil shows up. garnish with chopped coriander leaves handful. Switch off and get ready to assemble.

For Garnishing:

Red food color - 1/4 tsp + 1 tbsp Milk (keep aside)

Chopped coriander leaves - handful

Mint leaves - few

Kewra Water - 1 tsp

For layering:

Wipe the rice pan with paper towel. smear the butter all around the pan. put half layer of rice. Lay eggs on top first and spread curry around. spread half of the deep fried onions, few mint leaves, handful of chopped coriander leaves, again spread the remaining rice, spread remaining fried onion, drizzle red color liquid, few mint leaves all around, few coriander leaves chopped, put few knobs of butter on top, 1 tsp Kewra water (not too much otherwise it becomes bitter). cover the dish with foil, and keep the lid tight. Put a tawa pan on simmer heat, put the dish on top and cook away for 35 - 40 mins. Switch off when you feel air is coming out.

Serve with Cucumber Raita.

While Serving:

Shake the dish side ways to mingle.

Tip:

When you have drained the liquid out from parboiled rice.  Reserve this to serve as soup. It tastes delicious. No need to season it again. Serve warm.

© 2013 by Rajani Rayudu