Tomato Biryani

Tomato Biryani

This one is for all my vegetarian friends...Hope you guys are happy now!!!

Ingredients:

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Basmati Rice - 4 Rice cooker cups
Onion -1
Peas -1/4 cup
cinnamon - 1 (1 inch size)
Clove -2
Aniseed - 1
bayleaf -1
Butter - 3/4 stick
Oil - 1/4 cup
Tomato - 4
Salt - to taste

To Grind:
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Garlic - 10 cloves
Ginger - 1 inch
Green chillies - 4
Cinnamon - 1
Clove -2
Fennel seeds - 1 tbsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tbsp
Whole pepper - 10-15
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Coriander leaves - some
Mint leaves - 10-15 leaves

Method:
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Soak the basmati for 30 minutes.grind the masala and keep aside.Heat the butter and oil in a pan.Add the whole spices.Now add onion and saute it well till it becomes golden brown.This step is very important for any biryanis.You have to really cook the onion till you get a good aroma.Now add the ground masala.Add the tomatoes.Try to cook this in the oil for sometime.Add 1 cup of water and continue cooking.Add peas.Cook well till the oil seperates.Now add the remaining measure of water.1: 1 1/2 ratio.So for 4 cups of rice,6 cups of water.We added one cup earlier so now add 5 more cups.Now add salt.This step is also very important.You have to add correct amount of salt.When you taste,you should feel it is a little salty.Only then when you add the rice,it gets the salt.Now cook for a few minutes till the water is all soaked up by the rice.Make sure that it doesn't get too dry.Cover the pan airtight with an aluminium foil and put it in the oven.Preheat oven 350 degree and keep for 20 minutes.Serve hot with raita and chips.You can switch off and leave it in the oven and take it when you want to serve..it remains hot!!!!

Ps:Transfer the pan from the stove to the oven immediately before it loses any heat.