So when I was almost very late to decide what to plan for this month, I happened to chat with PJ, with the intent of asking her to suggest something. After much deliberation on various dishes that she had in mind, she sent me this Biryani link for us to check out. Since this blog was specialized in Chettinad recipes, I was sure this will be authentic. The recipe is adapted from this blog, with my own interpretation with few ingredients.
However of late I haven’t been able to get my hand on this spice and whenever I ask the shopkeeper, I am given these long ones, which goes by the same name as Marathi Moggu. However, from my own experience and taste, I know it’s not the same. Even at looking it, I can say that this particular long spice will be very pungent and we will not be able to grind it, as you are supposed to do with the Bisi Bele Bath’s special spice blend.
Many years ago, I did a lot of research and was on the hot trail of finding out what this Marathi Moggu called in English and what else to know. I came to know that it’s called Kapok Buds or Indian Capers. The unripe flower buds are supposedly used in Italian cuisine, where these are pickled in brine. These Mogga are the dried ripe fruit. I am not a botanist, so I can verify this information. However, it’s been my most researched spice. Given my interest in Indian Spices, I love to read and know more about the many spices we have. Unfortunately, information over the internet is never always trustworthy So I leave for individuals to decide for themselves.
In any recipe, you can substitute the Maratha Moggu with more cloves, trust me, it will never work. So one is lucky to have used this spice and known the taste.
Step by Step Pictures for making Chettinad Vegetable Biryani
Chettinad Vegetable Biryani / Kaikari Biryani
Ingredients
For the Rice
- 3 cups Jeera Samba Rice
- 2 cups Mixed Vegetables
- 3/4 cup Shallots Small Onions
- 2 nos Tomatoes finely chopped
- 4 nos Green Chillies
- 2 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste
- 2 tsp Red Chilli powder
- 2 tsp Coriander powder
- 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
- Mint leaves Pudina, handful
- Coriander leaves handful
- 20 nos Cashew Nuts
- 2 tbsp Ghee
- Salt to taste
- 4.5 cups Water
Masala tempering
- 2 nos Bay leaves
- 1" 2 pieces Cinnamon
- 4 nos Cardamom
- 6 nos Cloves
- 1 nos Marati Moggu
- 1 Star Anise Annachi poo
- Black Stone Flower little
- 1 no Mace Javitri
- 1/4 cup Cooking Oil
Instructions
- Wash and soak the rice for 30 mins.
- Wash and dice the vegetables like potato, carrot into medium cubes, cauliflower into medium florets, slice green beans into 1" lengthwise and some green peas.
- Peel and chop the shallots. Chop the tomatoes. Fry the cashew nuts in ghee until golden brown. Clean and chop both pudina and coriander leaves. Break the green chilies into half.
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker, add the whole spices tempering to the hot oil and saute for 1 minute.
- Next add the shallots, green chillies to the pan, saute until onion turns pale. Add the ginger garlic paste and saute until raw smell leaves. Add the mixed vegetables to the pan and fry for 3 minutes. Add chopped pudina and coriander leaves (reserve some to garnish) to the pan and saute for 1 minute.
- At this stage add chopped tomatoes, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder to the vegetables and mix well until tomatoes are tender. Add water to the pan, slightly cover with lid and bring vegetable mixture to boil.
- When the water reaches rolling boil stage, add drained rice along with required salt to the pan. Stir well to combine everything and cover with lid, Pressure cook for 3 whistles,
- Once the pressure falls, remove the lid, garnish with fired cashews, coriander leaves.
- Serve with onion Raitha.
Notes
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| Nanari Drink |
The Sunday I made this Biryani, Hubby Dear had got Nanari Syrup and made us a drink for us to enjoy with the biryani.
Nanari is an herbal drink, famous in Andhra, I believe it’s in other states as well, as expected. However, I got to taste it again after a long time and it sort of rekindled my childhood memories on some delicious drinks. I am not still sure if this was it, however, I enjoyed it then, which was during a trip to hubby’s native place, and now when he made it again especially for me.
Here’s a toast of Nanari with the special Indian Cooking Challenge!
8 comments
Thanks for the recipe Valli that was so delicious and flavor full biryani we enjoyed it.
Nice.. The big ones are Himej and I have it too. Jaadipathiri we use in making diwali legiyam. Mace and maradi moggu are the key ones here. I can clearly tell the difference.. 3 more days to get my hands of that spice and prepare the chetinadu masala 🙂
They look like Himej to me too. I bought it by chance and it’s the fruit of the Termanalia Chebula tree. Not expensive in the UK but not well known.
Thanks for choosing this dish and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
This looks awesome srivalli! Will try soon .
your recipe looks delicious nd yummy…
Your recipes very useful to me try soon
RevathiThanks..hope you try this and enjoy!