Anjali's Food Kaleidoscope

Lauki Biryani / Bottlegourd Biryani
serves three- four 

I admit , it’s a quick fix meal , nothing exotic but tastes pretty good and not much effort in cooking if grating the “Lauki / Bottlegourd “is not a big deal for you.

Here is how you can make “Lauki / Bottlegourd  Biryani “ in a matter of minutes.

Ingredients for Lauki/ Bottlegourd Biryani:

1.    2 cups grated and squeezed lauki ( reserve the water to cook the rice)

2.    One cup freshly blended tomato puree

3.    One large onion sliced thin

4.     One heaped teaspoon ginger garlic paste

5.     ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder

6.     One level teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder

7.     Salt to taste or two level teaspoons

8.     4-6 tablespoons refined oil

9.     A few mixed spices like cumin seeds , cloves , cinnamon and black cardamom
10. one cup long grain rice

Method for Lauki Biryani:

1.    Soak one cup of long grain rice for atleast half an hour.

2.    Coarsely grate the Lauki / Bottlegourd , squeeze out the water and keep it aside.

3.    Warm the oil and add the spices keeping the flame on medium , and as soon as the spices change colour , add the onions.

4.    Stir fry the  onions till they turn golden brown , add the ginger garlic paste and cook for another two minutes.

5.     Add the turmeric and red chilli powder , stir for a few seconds and follow by the tomato puree.

6.    Measure the reserved water of the lauki and add more water to make one cup of water and add to the pan.

7.    Add the grated Lauki followed by the rice and the salt , cover and cook on low flame till done.

8.     Serve with raita or just plain yogurt.