A Million Dollar Dish

The aroma of long grained Basmati dressed in different colors. It's white - as you like it every day. It's yellow - with a bit of orange tint to it; dazzled with the royal strands of saffron here and there. Oh, before the rice lover in you imagine a plate full of cooked rice, all set to pour some Dal on it, wait, this dish has an indulgence of its own.

It builds on your taste buds layer by layer. As you let that spatula go deep into the bottom of the serving dish, you pamper both your eyes and taste buds with a feast that oozes variety. A handful of round beads of peas scattered here and there. A delicately chopped floret of cauliflower hiding perfectly cooked rice grains in it. Chopped beans and potatoes accentuating the appeal. The red color of carrot shimmering more with the generous dose of spices and don't forget, the whole cashew-nuts and raisins ready to spoil you with royal indulgence.

But wait, these vegetables are not ordinary. They are formally dressed to add more definition to your experience. Soaked in yogurt and a generous dose of exotic spices, you taste these vegetables like never before. Strong, mild, striking and subdued; all these spices have an intoxicating effect on you. Be it the very special garam masala or the ordinary cumin and chili powder, all of it when mixed with yogurt redefines the art of cooking. And those who prefer meat over the greens, please don't be disappointed. Just add what you like in this dish, it's quite cosmopolitan and accommodating, you see.

Now there is more to this dish than vegetables and rice. It takes a lot of patience and preparation. We don't call it a 'Million Dollar Dish' without a reason. You cook rice to perfection. You dress vegetables in yogurt, let it relax for sometime and cook it slowly to let all the taste sink in. Rich spices - cardamom, cloves, cinnamon enrich the flavor as you let them splatter in hot desi ghee. No, we are not done yet. Then we arrange rice and vegetables in layers, adding saffron to half of the rice which makes it a visual treat. Last, we cover it and let it cook slowly so that all the flavors create a perfect dish. In the end, sprinkling it with a dash of coriander.

And I dig my fingers into it. No, I don't use a fork or spoon. I eat it the way we Indians love; soaking the taste and letting the tamarind stain tip of my fingers, leaving a perfect memory. Well, this makes the multi-colored, multi-layered Vegetable Biryani a sumptuous feat in itself. From the Maharajas to Nawabs, from having it at the local stall to ordering it at a fancy restaurant, this single dish is, without doubt, the 'Million Dollar Dish' of India. Always remember to add a spoonful of Mint Raita to your plate of biryani. And, we  Indians love it so much that every region has its own variation - Hyderabadi Biryani, Lucknowi Biryani, Sindhi Biryani and the list goes on and on.

Now that I fancy this dish so much, I think of cooking it a healthy way. Cooking rice in the microwave, so that each strand is not only well cooked but separate. Not like the pressure cooker where rice grains stick as if forming some bond. Also, preparing the tadka and cooking paste in the microwave instead of a skillet. For cooking, Borosil Square Dish is great. Now, a well-cooked dish must be presented in a grand way. How about serving it a transparent glass dish which shows its true colors, literally! I think Borosil Deep Rectangular Dish is perfect for it. It will enhance the visual effects; showing layers of rice and those tempting vegetables resting leisurely in between.

...And lastly to give it a whole new experience, how about using Borosil Indigo Melamine Dinnerware. Those trendy plates and we are all set to have the experience of a fancy restaurant in our own living rooms. 

*Written as a part of 'My Beautiful Food' campaign sponsored by www.myborosil.com

Comments

  1. A Million dollar dish and a billion dollar post :D

    Best of luck gal :D

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  2. Delicious post! I love Veggie biryani too! :D

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  3. I felt weak in legs after reading the yummy post already mind filled with aroma and taste buds tingling:)Best of luck Saru!

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  4. I have finished dinner but now am left craving for veg. biryani. yOU rockkkkk Saru.

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  5. Slurp slurp !..delicious post... :-D

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  6. Great Post Saru :) I love love love Biryani!

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  7. waw... a post full of tastes...
    well while reading i was having a glimpse of eating the dish and felt bad when the post was over as i felt my "eating is also over"...

    will try my hands on it soon. thanx for giving such a nice menu.
    add a photograph of the dish too mam...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adding picture is not allowed in this stage of contest. Thanks for reading and for a lovely comment, Ashish.

      Delete
  8. Really Great post Saru Jee.
    I love it

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  9. I love Basmati rice but after reading your post. I am craving it with some vegetables.

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    Replies
    1. It's a great Indian dish, we call it Biryani. Try it someday, with vegetables or meat.

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  10. hai....early morning and biryani..now i need it!!!
    Best of luck with the contest

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    Replies
    1. I'm planning to make it today. You are most welcome here, Red.

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  11. Veg biryaani is being very popular in northen India very much ! a million dollar dish with a billion dollar taste

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  12. Great! The biryani seems so yummy, I will cook it for today's lunch. Best oy luck for the contest.

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    Replies
    1. Even I am thinking of cooking it. Thanks for your wishes, Ma'am.

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  13. Stop! Saru Stop! Or I will die of humger. This is of special kind, it's called Biryani Ki bhookh... :p

    I miss Biryani days (college days). Lot's of fun memories attached to this word Biryani. All the best dear. :)

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    Replies
    1. Biryani ki bhookh, hahahaha... I can relate to those college memories. Thanks for your wishes.

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  14. Wow! Foodgasm :)

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  15. Am hungry already.. Did you have to do this? My mouth is already watering. :\ Anyways, all the best for the contest dear. With the way you have left all of us craving for food with this post, am pretty sure you are bound to win. ;)

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    Replies
    1. I am kinda jinxed when it comes to Indi contests but let's keep my fingers crossed.

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  16. Wow.. i just had my lunch but that description makes me hungry again! All the best :)

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  17. The description is a little too bedazzling not to get lured into the dream of gormandizing it. :)

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  18. Such a desirable post. Wow! A vegetarian's delight. :D

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  19. wowowow.. indeed worth more than million for sure :) made me soooo hungryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

    Bikram

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  20. Its very unfair Saru! The mouthwatering explanation is just unfair! Now my taste buds are demanding what you have explained! Have search for something in the kitchen... Bye! TC!

    Best of luck for the contest :)
    Regards,
    Sindhu
    Tantu
    The Arts & Me

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Sindhu for a lovely lovely comment. <3

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  21. I'm hungry!!! I love biryani!!

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  22. Sounds yummmmm!!!

    All the best for the contest Saru! :)

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  23. veg biryani never tasted so good

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  24. i always prefers chickens over veg now .. :d (impact of punjabi roommates during 4 yr of engg life ) ..:P all the best for contest :)

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    Replies
    1. I know how Punjabis drool over non-vegetarian version of Biryani. Thanks for your wishes.

      Delete
  25. Yummy! I love Biryani too & eat it with my hands like you :)
    Best wishes for the contest!

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  26. Sounds delicious!

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  27. Great, now I am hungrier than ever......People should change the format of providing recipes :)... Extremely tempted to devour that Briyani .... A recipe without relevant pics is hardly followed, but kudos to you Saru you have some hungry followers :).....Truly innovative....

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for a generous comment, Vidhya. :)

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    2. Pleasure is all mine to have found this amazing you

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    3. Trust me, feeling is mutual. <3

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  28. Gosh! I just ate a finger licking Biryani visually.. Yet, I am hungry now. Such an amazing post Saru Di. Just loved it

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  29. Vegetable Biriyani (the way you described it) + Kerala chicken curry = Perfect for me :) Nice post Saru.. All the best for the contest :)

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  30. All the best :) I liked the description of the Biryani very much especially The aroma of long grained Basmati dressed in different colors. It's white - as you like it everyday. It's yellow - with a bit of orange tint to it; dazzled with the royal strands of saffron here and there. Oh, before the rice lover in you imagine a plate full of cooked rice, all set to pour some Dal on it, wait, this dish has an indulgence of its own.

    A wow for it :)

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    Replies
    1. Glad you liked it, Saurabh. Thanks a ton for reading.

      Delete
  31. Congrats Saru for clearing Round 1

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  32. You really create magic with words...how thought full $$

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