Mouth-watering, Royal Kewra Fragrant Biryani

Prepared with simple and easily available home ingredients, try this special fragrant biryani. Bring the aroma of royalty to your nostrils! 

Ingredients:-

- 1 cup basmati rice (soaked 30 mins)  

- 4 cups water  

- 2 tbsp oil/ghee   

- 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste  

- 1 cup mixed veggies 

- 1 tsp biryani masala or garam masala  

- Salt to taste  

- 2 tbsp curd  

- A few saffron strands in 2 tbsp warm milk  

- 2–3 drops James Kewra Essence   

Instructions:-

1. Boil your rice with the whole spices and salt until 90% done (there should be a crunch when you press the grain between your fingertips). Drain and set it aside.

2. Heat some oil/ghee and sauté the chopped onions till it turns golden.  

3. Add some ginger-garlic paste and cook till the raw smell fades away.  

4. Next, add some chopped veggies and sauté them for 5–6 mins.  

5. Then add some chopped tomatoes, spices, salt, and curd. Cook it till the oil separates.  

6. Mix coriander and mint leaves in it and turn off the heat.

7. Now, we will layer the biryani. In a heavy deep set pan, add your first layer of rice. Add half the amount. For the second layer, add the vegetable masala mixture. Then for the final layer, add your remaining rice.    

8. We are almost done now. Pour the saffron milk you had prepared earlier and James Kewra Essence on top of the rice. Finally, top it up with fried onions.

9. It's time for dum cooking now. Cover the lid tightly. Seal with dough if possible, otherwise you can use a cloth too. Cook on low flame for 15–20 minutes. 

10. Let the pan rest for 10 minutes after you turn off the flame. Your biryani is now ready to serve! A raita, plain curd, salad or pickle at the side would go along well with your biryani.

Enjoy your biryani hot. Hope you like sharing your food, since the fragrance is sure to invite many noses around you!