Biryani Recipe by Chef Khadijah

Dear bloggers. This is a post about one of THE best biryani's I've ever had in my life, in competition with Fakruddin. (I'm not exaggerating I swear!)

Chef Khadijah recently moved to Boston, has JUST started her journey in cooking, and this was actually her first attempt at Biryani. She has kindly agreed to give the recipe she used from Shaant. (im dying to try it, maybe after midterms :-( )

Bombay Style Pilaf
Serves 6-8

500-750g Beef/Chicken/Mutton, cut into small cubes, with bones
500-750g Basmati Rice, washed and soaked for 30 minutes
300g Onion, finely sliced
300g Tomatoes, chopped
250g Potatoes, peeled and halved
25g Ginger, chopped
25g Garlic paste
200g Plain Yogurt, beaten
200g Ghee/Oil
Shan Special Bombay Biryani Mix

1. Fry the onions in the ghee/oil until golden. Add the tomatoes and fry until the oil separates.

2. Add the meat, garlic, ginger, potatoes, yogurt and Shan Special Bombay Biryani Mix. Fry for 15 minutes. Add 1-2 cups water and cook on low heat until the meat is tender. Then increase the heat and stir fry until the oil separates from the sauce.

3. Meanwhile cook the rice separately. Add 3 tbsp salt to 12 glasses hot water and the soaked rice. Boil until the rice is half cooked. Remove fro the heat and thoroughly drain.

4. Spread the cooked meat and sauce over the rice in two layers. Cover the pot and cook on a low heat until the rice is fully cooked and tender.

5. Stir before serving with fresh salad and raita.

Biryani

Raita

Our beautiful layout

And a super treat: Lebu shorbot!

 My other host Mustafa, attacked the desert before I could take pics. hehe
Thank you both of you, I'm definitely coming over more often. And yes the next day, the whole day i was thinking of the biryani. iT was THAT GOOD!

My hosts

Leaving on a Jet plane and having some bhaat before i go

Once again featuring Chef Runa, Johura and Mum, an concluding my Dhaka collection this year.

The last meal I ate before I flew back to Boston after my short trip; a combination of leftovers: bhorta's fish, veggies chicken.

And back at Zia International.

Everytime I'm rushing off to the airport, I never get to have a hearty "last meal" type meal (usually because I'm always late for my flight.) This time as well. Oh what I wouldn't do to have a little more of that meal....

Dear Dhaka; you frustrate me so much, I'm glad I live far away, When you do great things like host Worldcups, I feel my heart wrenching to be with you, when you become that angry stubborn kid and do silly things, I feel like hiding myself in shame, but there is not a moment when I don't miss you and think of you.

Impromptu meal at Dadi's

Day before I left, I obviously went to Dadi's to say bye and obviously I demanded she make me food.

Anything my Dadi makes is just amazing, she is truly THE BEST COOK IN THE WORLD.

Sitting on Dadi's bed and having lunch with my Chachi's, Dadis and Cousins.

Fried chicken and Kabab

Goru Gosh Bhuna

And my cutest Dadi. I miss her, I think I'm gonna call her now. :D