FISH BIRYANI

 

Fish biryani is a very popular dish in the Middle East and also gaining its popularity in Pakistan also. This dish is very delicious and nutritious too. Fish biryani is made of fish of your choice marinated with spices, fresh herbs and cooked with rice into a luxurious biryani. Fish biryani is popularly known as the Machli ki biryani, a very traditional Indian recipe delicately cooked to infuse the flavors of the fish with spices blended into the rice.

An amazing and delectable recipe that lure all the palates of the seafood lovers! Biryani as such is an all time favorite and cooked in many variations either using vegetables, chicken, meat (mutton or beef), shrimps, egg or fish. Traditionally biryani is known as a one pot meal and one of the heavenly dishes of all rice lovers. Biryani taste best when accompanied with raita, mirchi ka salan or brinjal masala etc.

Biryani is a versatile dish that can also be eaten on its own. No celebrations or feasts are imagined without an aromatic and delectable biryani. A dish that tastes simply superb. For making the fish biryani it’s always best to use little bigger chunks of fish pieces as they are delicate and cook very fast.

This dish is spicy and with a different flavor and taste as dill leaves are added in the masala to the fish along with fresh mint leaves and coriander leaves. The refreshing fragrance of the dill leaves enhances the flavor and makes the fish biryani truly aromatic to taste. Fresh dill leaves is a wonder herb most famous in many cuisines together with its medicinal values especially for children. Dill grows in Mediterranean region and south Russia.

Also found growing in Spain, Portugal and around the coast of Italy and rarely grows in few parts of northern Europe. Dill leaves are feathery and thread like in appearance and have yellow flowers.  In terms of taste, they are very similar to that of caraway, but have a tangy, grassy flavor along with a hint of lemon, pine and fennel.  This is a delicately flavored herb with lots of culinary and medicinal uses since ancient times.

Fresh dill herb is much more aromatic than the dried one. Its name is probably derived from the Saxon word ‘dilla’ or ‘dillan’, the translation being ‘to lull’.  This name could refer to the properties that dill possesses in terms of being able to pacify and calm babies with colic or flatulence.  The dill leaves or seeds impart a wonderful aroma especially when fresh has a much sweeter fragrance than dried fruits.

The characteristic, sweet taste of dill is popular all over central and Eastern Europe, & western, central and southern Asia, Sweet and aromatic, intermediate between anise and caraway.  Dried and fresh leaves are used in sauces, salads, soups, stews, and vinegars. Dill is an important flavouring agent in the pickling of cucumbers. The tastes of dill leaves resemble that of caraway, while the seeds are pungent and aromatic. Freshly cut, chopped leaves enhance the flavour of dips, herb butter, soups, salads, fish dishes, and salads.

The characteristically subtle flavor of Dill complements most fish dishes, particularly Salmon. Dill is also invaluable as a flavoring for salads, potato dishes, and sauces. Care must be taken to add Dill at the last moment in the cooking process. The flavor of Dill vanishes if it is over cooked. The leaves can also be added into cottage cheese to add a something special.

They can also be added to bean soups to add to the taste and prevent flatulence. For preparing the Fish biryani, you can use any fish but many prefer using the fish with a single bone or boneless. Here we are using the popularly known Mahi fish. Wash and remove the skin of the fish and cut them into medium size chunks. Marinate the fish pieces with chilli powder, turmeric powder, little oil, biryani masala, lime juice and salt. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and keep it aside to rest for 30 mins.

In a pan, heat oil and shallow fry the fish pieces. Fry them in batched until they are 70 % to 80% cooked for about 3 to 4 mins. Drain oil and remove them into a plate and keep aside. In the same oil, add yoghurt, biryani masala, fresh mint leaves, coriander leaves and dill leaves, ginger garlic paste, slit green chillies, lime juice, fried onions and sauté them nicely. Take half of this mixture and spread it over the fried fish. In separate vessel boil water add whole garam masala. When the water comes to boil add the rice (washed and soaked for 30 mins) and cook till the rice is 80% done.

Drain the water and add this rice into the pan with yoghurt masala, sprinkle saffron color, fried onion and top it with the fish pieces and the masala. Spread evenly over the rice. Cover and cook on slow heat for another 10 mins. Once the rice is cooked the fish biryani is ready to serve. Fish biryani is rare and classic dish before all other varieties of biryanis.

The subtle flavour of dill leaves, mint and coriander leaves give a strong and fragrant flavour to this special dish. The fish biryani is tender juicy and spicy that simply tastes excellent.

 

Do check out the making of this recipe at: https://www.vahrehvah.com/fish-biryani-indian-recipe You can reduce the chillies,if you donot eat spicy food or your chillies are very hot.

 

Rice should be ¾ th only cooked, the grain when soaked for 30 mins will help in making the rice longer than its usual size. If you donot like dill leaves, can use coriander leaves instead. If you think that the quantity of dill leaves is more, you can reduce it also. Add only a little dill leaves as they have a strong aroma. Dill leaves are Stimulant, aromatic, carminative and stomachic. Amongst its other properties, Dill is known for acting as an antibacterial and antispasmodic agent and as a diuretic. However, its main purpose is for calming the digestive system.  It also stimulates lactation.

Fish Biryani

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ingredient Name	Unit	Quantity
biryani masala	tbsp	3
chilli powder	tbsp	1
coriader leaves	bunch	1
curd	cup	1
dill leaf	springs	1
Dry garam masalas		as needed
fish	lbs	2
fried onion	cup	1
ginger garlic paste	tbsp	1
green chillies	number	2
lime	number	1
mint leaves chopped	bunch	2
rice	grams	250
salt		as per taste
turmeric powder		pinch
water		as needed

Directions | How to make Fish Biryani
first take fish pieces. Next maraniate the fish, add Chilli powder, turmuric,oil, lime juice, salt, biryani masala mix well and keep a side for 30min. In a pan add little oil and cook the maraniated fish and keep a side. In the same pan add curd, biryani masala 2t mint leaves, coriander leaves, dill leaf, ginger garlic paste, lime juice,green chillies, salt,fried onions half, mix well and add half of the mixture to the cooked fish. Now boil the Rice, half cooked rice. Now in the masala pan add the half cooked rice spread evenly add colour, onions, then spread the Fish pieces and masala. cook for 20 min by closing the lid in very slow flame.