Stove top Chicken Biryani

Hyderabadi Dum ka Biryani is the only kind of dish my Big B would call Biryani. He would probably put me in a corner for calling the dish I made "Biryani". But when you are short of time and are craving yummy food, anything goes.

And anything close to a "Biryani" on a week night after a long day's work and home cooked f is "the best" no matter what you call it. So call what you may...I present
Stove top Chicken Biryani (Stove top One pot chicken and rice dish )

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb chicken breasts or better yet chicken tenderloins cut at a biase, into 3/4 inch slices 1-2 inches long  
2. 1/2 teaspoon each or salt, turmeric, chilli powder, garam masala powder, cumin
3. 1 teaspoon each of coriander powder, ginger-garlic paste
4. 2 tablespoons oil
5. 1 medium large onion sliced thin
6. 1 bay leaf
7. 2 cups (Measure uncooked) Basmati rice cooked according to package directions. Cooked with 1/2 teaspoon salt
8. 1/4 cup warm milk + pinch saffron (optional)
9. few mint leaves

Marinate the chicken with the spices and set aside.

In a wide pan heat the oil and add the bay leaf and cumin and fry for a minute. On medium high flame fry the onions till 90% of them turn brown. Add ginger garlic paste and fry for a minute. Add the chicken and fry for 10-12 minutes until they start turning golden brown. Add the cooked rice , topped with saffron soaked in warm milk if using, garnish with mint and cover and cook for 2-3 minutes, on very low flame.

Garnish with 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice and coriander with available on hand.

Enjoy with Gravy for Biryani
More recipes...
Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani
Shrimp Biryani 
Egg Biryani
Fish Biryani

Lahori chana masala

Chana masala or Cholay is one of those street foods which you would find in every corner, every street, every city in India. Everyone has thier own way of making it and every single one of them is delicious. The cholay masala I made today, is unique to me but it is so delicious. Next time I have to double the recipe because there wasn't enough :)

And to make it a meal...I got Samosas today, when I went shopping in the Indian store. So that was a crazy yummy dinner

Lahori chana masala(Chickpeas curry with Indian Spices)

Lahori Chana Masala

Ingredients:

1. 1 can chickpeas
2. 1 small onion sliced
3. 1 medium tomato chopped
4. 1 tablespoon tomato paste
5. 1/4 cup yellow moong dal cooked
6. 1/2 teaspoon each of cumin, saunf, salt, turmeric, red chilli powder (or more), ginger garlic paste
7. 1/4 teaspoon ajwain, garam masala
8. 1 teaspoon each of coriander powder, amchur powder, dried fenugreek leaves, 
9. 2 tablespoons oil
10. coriander leaves for garnishing

In a pan heat the oil and add the cumin and saunf and fry for a minute. Add the onions and fry till they start to change color to brown. Add the tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes. Add the dal and tomato paste and cook for 5 more minutes along with all the spices and mix well. Add washed chickpeas and 1/2 cup water and simmer for 10-15 minutes. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy with Pav or Poori or Samosa or as is

Dosa kaaya pachadi

Once upon a time, long long ago, back in the mother country I went to a friend's house and her mom made this "Chutney" with Yellow Cucumber. My mom never made it. I had no idea what it was, but boy oh boy it was delicious.

I had to ask my friend's mom for the recipe and then finally one day when I found this in the market I got it and I made it myself. Its super delicious and it goes great with white rice or with Dosa or Idli or anything else you want chunky chutney with

Dosa kaaya pachadi (Yellow cucumber side)

Yellow Melon cucumber

Ingredients:

1. 1 medium sized Dosakaya/yellow Cucumber
2. 2 tsp Oil
3. 2 Garlic cloves
4. 3 Red chili
5. 1 teaspoon Coriander or dhaniya powder
6. 1/2 teaspoon each of Cumin seeds, Fenugreek seeds, salt, mustard seeds
7. 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
8. 1/2 cup thick juice from golf ball sized tamarind
9. few curry leaves

Peel and chop the cucumbers into small pieces.

Heat oilin a pan and add cumin and methi seeds, curry leaves and red chillies until they start to splatter. Add chopped garlic and fry for 30 seconds. Add the cucumber pieces and cook covered for 10 minutes or until they get soft. Add the tamarind juice and mix well and coo for 5 more minutes. Enjoy with rice/dosa or idli