Kofta Biryani

Biryani is a traditional mughlai main course item loaded with chopped vegetables, spices, saffron. I always make Biryani so I wanted to add a new flavor. This biryani has vegetables and Kofta. The Kofta’s are unbelievably juicy and full of flavor. Flavors from each ingredient get immersed in the Koftas.  Every bite is like heaven. My guests and kids love it very much.

You really have to cook the biryani with a lot of love and care. This biryani has a few more ingredients due to the kofta’s, but trust me, it is worth it. After having a bite, you will forget about the work you have done.

This recipe is going to be made in 3 steps

Ingredients - Kofta

2-3 potatoes boiled and grated

150 gms paneer

1 tbsp raisins

1tsp red chili powder

1 tsp garam masala powder

Salt to taste

¼ cup of corn flour for dusting

Oil for frying

1tsp coriander powder

1tsp funnel seeds

Procedure – Kofta

In a bowl mix together grated paneer, mashed potatoes, coriander powder, chili powder, garam masala, crushed funnel seeds and salt as needed. Mix very nicely. 

Make smooth dough. Divide the mixture equally and make balls and put a raisin inside the ball.

Roll the balls in corn flour. This is done to absorb any moisture left.

Heat oil and fry the koftas in batches on medium heat until golden brown.

Remove from oil and drain them on a paper towel. Now the koftas are ready. Keep it aside.

 Ingredients- For cooking rice: 

3 cup Basmati rice (soaked for half an hour)
½ tsp Shah jeera (caraway seeds)

1 inch Cinnamon stick

3 bay leaves

4 cardamoms

3-4 cloves

4 -5 black pepper corns

 1 Tbsp ghee

1 tbsp nutmeg powder (optional)

Procedure

Wash and soak basmati rice for 1 ½ hr, drain and keep it aside.

Take 2 tbsp of warm milk and soak saffron in it. 

In a pot ,boil 2 ½ cup of water, add salt ,bay leaves , caraway seeds , cinnamon, cloves, blackpepeer , cardomom and 1 tbsp  of ghee/oil. 

Add the soaked rice and Cook until the rice is about 3/4 done.

Ingredients – Vegetables  

1 small carrot diced

1 ½ cup yogurt

3 large onions sliced

¼ cup green peas (shelled)

2 ½ tbsp ghee/ oil

¼ cup French beans

1 cup cauliflower (cut onto florets)

2 green chilies

1 ½ tbsp ginger, garlic paste

1 tsp red chili powder

A pinch turmeric powder

A few saffron stands

2-3 tsp kewra water

Salt to taste

15-20 fresh mint leaves

Handful coriander leaves

1 tbsp Biryani masala

1 tbsp garam masala powder

¼ cup babycorn

Procedure 

Heat 2 tbsp oil in a kadai, cut onions into thin strips and fry it in oil until golden brown. And keep aside.

Now in the same kadai heat the remaining oil and season with Shahi jeera, bay leaves, then add cauliflower, carrot, saute them for 4-5 minutes then add beans, peas, baby corn, mix well and saute all veggies for few minutes then add salt , chopped mint, chopped coriander leaves, add ginger, garlic paste saute.

 Now add green chili, biryani masala, garam masala, red chili powder, turmeric powder and add curd.

 Mix well and saute for 5-6 minutes or until the masalas coat the vegetables. Once the veggies are done, add half the fried onions to the vegetables mixture and mix well.vegetable is ready .

Now for the main part of the biryani take the heavy vessel and put a little bit of ghee on the bottom and spread a layer of rice and then spread a layer with the cooked vegetables over it and put your fired kofta on it. 

As shown as in the picture, sprinkle some fried onions, chopped mint leaves, nutmeg powder, half the soaked saffron. Again, Layer the remaining rice over it and then the cooked vegetables and koftas.

 Now add the remaining fried onions, mint leaves, soaked saffron, netmeg powder, ghee and kewra water. In the end, Take 1 tbsp of ghee pours it around the sides.

 Cover the sides of the lid with dough so that the flavor and fragrance stays inside. Now cook on high flame for two minutes then reduce the flame and cook for 12-15 minutes.Now your kofta biryani is ready .

I always like to serve it with mint raita .

Notes
If you have a thick vessel put it directly on the flame. If you don't have, put it on a tava and then on flame. 
You can also choose to add only Kofta to your rice.