Cooking prawn biryani in a pressure cooker is a simple and easy way to prepare a delicious lunch or dinner for your family and friends. This popular Indian dish is made with aromatic spices, fragrant basmati rice, and succulent prawns that are cooked to perfection in a pressure cooker. With a few simple steps, you can create a mouth-watering dish that is sure to impress.
To prepare prawn biryani in a pressure cooker, you will need to gather your ingredients and prepare them properly. This includes soaking the basmati rice, cleaning and deveining the prawns, and chopping the onions, tomatoes, and other spices. Once you have all your ingredients ready, you can start cooking your prawn biryani in the pressure cooker.
In this article, we will guide you through the process of cooking prawn biryani in a pressure cooker, step-by-step. We will provide you with tips and tricks to help you get the perfect flavour and texture for your biryani. So, let's get started!
Key Takeaways
- Cooking prawn biryani in a pressure cooker is a simple and easy way to prepare a delicious meal for your family and friends.
- To prepare prawn biryani in a pressure cooker, you need to gather your ingredients and prepare them properly.
- With a few simple steps, you can create a mouth-watering dish that is sure to impress.
Preparing the Ingredients
Before you start cooking the prawn biryani, it is essential to prepare all the ingredients. Here's what you need to do:
Selecting and Cleaning Prawns
When selecting prawns, make sure they are fresh and have a firm texture. To clean the prawns, remove the head, shell, and devein them. Rinse the prawns under cold water and pat them dry with a paper towel.
Rinsing and Soaking Rice
Rinse the basmati rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Soak the rice in water for at least 20 minutes before cooking. This will help the rice cook evenly and prevent it from sticking together.
Chopping Vegetables and Herbs
Chop the onions and tomatoes into small cubes. Finely chop the coriander leaves and mint leaves. Keep them aside for later use.
Blending Spices for Masala
To make the spice blend for the masala, blend together garam masala, turmeric powder, chilli powder, and salt. Keep the spice blend aside for later use.
Squeezing Lemon Juice
Squeeze fresh lemon juice and keep it aside for later use.
Cooking Prawn Biryani
To cook delicious prawn biryani in a pressure cooker, you need to follow a few simple steps. The process involves marinating the prawns, sautéing onions and spices, layering rice and prawns, and pressure cooking the biryani. Here's how you can do it:
Marinating the Prawns
Take 450 grams of prawns and marinate them in a mixture of 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons chilli powder, 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste, 1 tablespoon yogurt, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Keep it aside for 30 minutes.
Sautéing Onions and Spices
Take a pressure cooker and heat 2 tablespoons of oil or ghee in it. Add 1 cinnamon stick, 3 cloves, 3 cardamom pods, 2 bay leaves, 1 star anise, and 1 teaspoon fennel seeds. Sauté the spices for a few seconds until fragrant.
Next, add 2 sliced onions and sauté until they turn golden brown. Then, add 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste and sauté for another minute. Add 2 sliced tomatoes, 1 teaspoon coriander powder, and a handful of chopped mint leaves. Sauté until the tomatoes are soft and mushy.
Layering Rice and Prawns
Add the marinated prawns to the cooker and sauté for 2 minutes. Then, add 2 cups of soaked basmati rice and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add salt to taste and 3 cups of water. Mix well.
Pressure Cooking the Biryani
Close the pressure cooker with a lid and cook on a medium flame for 2 whistles. Then, reduce the flame to low and cook for another 5 minutes. Turn off the flame and let the pressure release naturally.
Open the lid and fluff the biryani with a fork. Your delicious prawn biryani is ready to serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best way to marinate prawns for a biryani?
Marinating the prawns is an essential step in preparing prawn biryani. To marinate the prawns, mix them with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and salt. Let the prawns marinate for at least 30 minutes to an hour before cooking. This will help to infuse the flavors and make the prawns tender.
Can you suggest some side dishes to serve with prawn biryani?
Prawn biryani is a complete meal in itself, but if you want to add some side dishes, you can serve it with raita, papad, and pickle. You can also serve some salad or roasted vegetables to balance the meal.
What are the health benefits of eating prawn biryani?
Prawn biryani is a rich source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Prawns are low in calories and high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for heart health. The spices used in biryani, such as turmeric, cumin, and coriander, have anti-inflammatory properties and aid digestion.
How do you adjust cooking times for different types of rice in a pressure cooker?
Different types of rice require different cooking times in a pressure cooker. Basmati rice, which is commonly used in biryani, usually takes around 5-6 minutes to cook in a pressure cooker. Brown rice takes longer, around 20-25 minutes, while white rice takes around 3-4 minutes. Always follow the instructions on the rice package for cooking times.
What's the average calorie count for a portion of prawn biryani?
The calorie count for a portion of prawn biryani depends on the ingredients used and the portion size. On average, a serving of prawn biryani contains around 400-500 calories. To reduce the calorie count, you can use low-fat yogurt instead of full-fat yogurt and reduce the amount of oil used.
Is it okay to pair raita with prawn biryani, and if so, any particular type?
Yes, raita is a perfect accompaniment to prawn biryani. You can make raita with yogurt, cucumber, tomato, onion, and mint. You can also add some roasted cumin powder and salt for extra flavor. Raita helps to balance the spiciness of biryani and aids digestion.