Fish Biriyani

Ingredients (serves for 2)

Basmati rice - 1 1/2 cups (1 cup size = 150 ml)

cloves -3

cardamom - 3

cinnamon - 3 -4 small sticks

bay leaves - 1

fennel seeds - 1 tsp

oil - 5 - 6 tsp

salt - as needed

big onion - 1

small tomato - 1

mint leaves - 1 fist full  + extra 2 tsp for garnishing

coriander leaves - 4 - 5 tsp

ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp

chili powder - 3/4 tsp

green chili - 2

coriander powder - 1/2 tsp

garam masala - 1 1/2 tsp

curd - 3 tsp

food color - a pinch (optional)

pepper powder - 1/4 tsp

cashews - 2-3 nos

For marinating the fish:

Fish pieces - 8 (I used thilapia)

lemon juice - 1/2 tsp

vinegar - 1/4 tsp (optional)

salt - 1/4 tsp

turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

chili powder - 1/2 tsp

Method:

• soak basmati rice for 20 mins
• heat a vessel with 3 tsp of oil and add 2 cloves, 2 cardamom, cashews and 2 cinnamon sticks
  
• after a minute, add basmati rice
  
• fry till the rice becomes non - sticky
• pressure cook the rice with 2 1/2 cups of water. Give it a whistle
  
• Spread the cooked rice in a big bowl and refrigerate it until use. 
  
• Marinate the fish pieces with the items mentioned under marination section and refrigerate that too
  
• cut the onions into thin slices and chop the tomato as well
• heat a vessel with 3 tsp of oil and add fennel seeds, 1 cardamom, 1 clove, bay leaves and 1 cinnamon stick
  
• add onions, green chili and then fist full of mint leaves
   
• fry till the mint leaves gets shrunk. 
• add ginger garlic paste and saute it till the raw smell goes off
  
• add the chopped tomatoes and salt 
  
• cook till the tomatoes become mushy
• add red chili powder, coriander powder, pepper powder and garam masala
  
• mix it well and then add curd
  
• cook it for 2 - 3 mins and then add marinated fish pieces 
  
• cook covered for 5 mins. Turn the fish pieces upside down and then cook it for 5 more mins. 
  
• Once the fish gets cooked, switch off the flame
  
• take a microwave safe bowl and spread a layer of cooked rice
• spread a layer of fish masala over the rice
  
• spread one more layer of rice and add chopped coriander + mint leaves on top of it
• dissolve food color in 2 tsp of water and pour over the rice layer
   
  
  
  
• repeat spreading the layers until you are out of rice and masala
• microwave it for 4 mins.
  
• mix the rice using a fork.
  
• Serve hot with onion raita and fish fry