palak biryani

INGREDIENTS:
main ingredients:
•2 cups basmati rice soaked for 30 minutes
•1 large onion, sliced
•1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
•1 medium size tomato, chopped
•4 or 4.5 cups of water
•3 tbsp oil or ghee
•some fried cashews for garnishing
•salt as required
whole spices:
•1 inch cinnamon
•1 small chakriphool
•2 green cardamoms
•1 or 2 black cardamoms
•2-3 cloves
•1 tej patta
•a pinch of mace
dry spice powders
•¼ tsp red chili powder
•¼ tsp garam masala powder
•¼ tsp turmeric powder
•½ tsp jeera powder
•1 tsp saunf powder
•1 tsp coriander powder
•a pinch of asafoetida
for the spinach puree:
•1 medium bunch spinach
•½ cup mint leaves
•½ cup coriander leaves
•1 or 2 green chilies
•5-6 almonds
INSTRUCTIONS:
preparing the spinach puree:
1.rinse the palak/spinach leaves well. chop and keep aside. rinse & chop the green chilies, mint and coriander leaves
2.in a blender, add the chopped spinach, mint, coriander, green chili and almonds.
3.add ½ cup water and blend to a smooth paste.
preparing the biryani:
1.first rinse and then soak the rice. when the rice is soaking, prepare the spinach puree as mentioned above.
2.heat oil in a thick bottom and deep pan or pot. add all the whole spices.
3.fry for some seconds or till the oil gets fragrant. add the sliced onions & fry till they are browned. remove some of the fried onions for garnishing.
4.add the ginger-garlic paste and fry for some seconds. now add the chopped tomatoes and fry till the tomatoes becomes soft for 2-3 minutes.
5.keep on stirring so that the ingredients do not stick to the bottom of the pan.
6.add the spinach puree and stir. saute for 3-4 minutes. now all the dry spice powders one by one and stir.
7.drain the soaked rice and add. stir for 1-2 minutes. pour 4 or 4.5 cups water. add salt and stir.
8.check the taste of the broth and if required add some more salt.
9.cover tightly with a lid and cook till the water is absorbed and the rice is cooked.
10.fluff the rice.
11.serve palak biryani hot garnished with the fried onions and fried cashews with a side vegetable curry, raita, yogurt curry or some salad.