Coconut Milk Biryani & A Birthday !!!

Saturday, October 03, 2015


It was quite a while since I made a good Biryani at home. There used to be a time when I made One pot meals quite frequently & a quick Pulao would be on our Lunch menu every other weekend. In fact, I used to make several versions of Biryani right from the layered version to a quick Pressure Cooker version, experimenting with different spice list each time

Coconut Milk Biryani

If you like all things Coconut, you are going to love this Coconut Milk Biryani as well. This is a very mildly spiced Biryani as compared to the ones that are heavy on spices. It goes well with a spicy Hyderabadi Salan, A Raita will also do but I highly recommend the Salan 


Coconut Milk Biryani


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You Will Need:

  • 1 cup Basmati Rice
  • 200 ml Coconut Milk ( I used Dabur Homemade)
  • 2 small Carrots - Diced
  • 1 large Potato - Diced
  • 1/4 cup chopped Beans
  • 1 large Onion - chopped lengthwise
  • A handful of chopped coriander
  • A handful of chopped Mint
  • Salt as per taste
  • 1 tbsp Ghee
  • 1 tsp Oil
  • 1/2 tsp Garam Masala
  • 10-15 toasted Cashew Nuts

To Grind:
  • 1 large Onion - Roughly Chopped
  • 1 large Tomato - Roughly Chopped
  • 10 Cashew Nuts
  • 2 'inch piece of Ginger
  • 5 cloves of Garlic
  • 4 Green Chilies
  • A small stick of Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Fennel Seeds
  • 3 Green Cardamom
  • 4-5 Cloves

How To:

Clean Basmati Rice under running water until the water runs clear. Soak in water & set aside for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, Chop the vegetables 

In a mixer, add all the ingredients mentioned in the 'To Grind' list & grind into a smooth paste without adding any water.

In a Pressure cooker, Heat Ghee & Oil. Once hot enough, add sliced onions & saute for a couple of minutes. Add the carrots, Beans, Potatoes & mix well. cook for another couple of minutes. Next, add the ground paste & some salt. Give it a good mix & Let it cook on low flame for 3 - 4 minutes.

Add the coconut milk, Garam Masala & bring it to a gentle boil. Drain the soaked Basmati Rice & Add it into the Pressure cooker. Mix well. Add about a little more than half a cup of water. Check for salt & give it a final mix. Close the lid & cook for 1 whistle. I use a Hawkins Pressure Cooker so mine gets done in 1 whistle. It may wary for other brands.

Allow the pressure to release & allow it to cool for a while. Add chopped coriander & Mint along with toasted cashew nuts. Gently fluff with a fork to mix well

Serve with a Raita or Salan along with some sliced Onions

I didn't have any Green Peas on hand. So, I didn't add them. But they make a nice addition. So does Cauliflower

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On the Personal front, Guess who just turned THREE? Yes. Kedar is now a Three year old School going toddler. Wait, Wasn't it just yesterday that I wrote a post announcing that we now have a new member in the family? However cliched it sounds Time does fly 


 I don't write about Kedar very often in this space but I have to say that It's been an incredible journey so far. Kedar is a complete Daddy's boy & he doesn't mince his words when he says that ( which he does all the time ) He loves his Dada more :)

We had a little Birthday party for him over the weekend & he got to cut his Peppa Pig Cake. Peppa Pig is his current favourite show. He loves it so much that his cousin sister even made him a Peppa Pig Rakhi .. I am not kidding. His current obsession is Construction Vehicles & he wants to be a JCB driver when he grows up  .. Phew !!!

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