Plain Biryani Rice

Ingredients:

3 cups Basmati rice ~ wash & soaked for 40 mins & drain

4 cups vegetable stock/water

2 tbsp ghee

1 yellow onion ~ sliced

1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste

1 tbsp green chili paste

1/2 cup (125g) plain yogurt

Salt to taste

Spices

1 cinnamon stick

2-anise star

3 cardamon

5 cloves

1 tsp black peppercorn

Dry Spices

1/2 tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp Garam masala

1 tsp red chili powder

Saffron strands + 2 tbsp warm water/milk

Directions/Instructions:

1. In a rice cooker, heat the ghee.  Add in the spices and let it crackle for a few seconds.
2. Then add in the onion and saute a little, season with salt.  When the onion is about to be done, add ginger-garlic and green chili paste.  Saute for a min or two.
3. Then add in the dry spices.  Stir in the yogurt to mix well with all the ingredients and cook for 2 mins.
4. Add the soaked rice, pour in vegetable stock or water, and close the lid.  Let the rice cook as normal.
5. Meanwhile, in a mortar take the saffron strands and grind with the pestle.  Pour in warm water/milk and mix well.  Open the lid and sprinkle the saffron water and 1 tbsp ghee oil
6. Let it sit for 5 mins, fluff up the rice using two forks and garnish with chopped coriander