Fish Briyani Kerala Style

Ingredients:-

For Rice:-
Basmati rice- 2 cups
Water - 4 cups
Cloves - 4nos
Cardamom pods - 3 nos
Cinnamon stick - 2
Bay leaves - 1
Onion - 1
Lemon juice - 1 tsp
Salt - a pinch

For Marinate fish:-
King fish fillet - 1 lb
Red chilli powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
Turmeric powder - 1/4tsp
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Lime juice- 1 tsp
salt - a pinch
Ghee- 1 tsp

For Fish Masala:-
Onion- 1
Tomato - 1
Green chilli - 2
Ginger garlic - 1 tsp
Yogurt - 1 tsp
R.chiili pdr- 1 tsp
Coriander powder- 1 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp

Briyani Masala:-
Mint - handfull
Coriander leaves - handfull
Ghee - 2 tsp
Lime juice - 1 tsp

For Garnishing:-
Ghee - 1 tsp
Cashew nuts - Handful
Raisin - handful
Fried Onion - 1/2 cup
Coriander leaves- handful
Saffron - a pinch
Warm milk - 2 tsp

Preparation:-

Cooking the Fish Masala:-

1. Clean the Fish and make a wet marinate with above mentioned marinate ingredients, apply it on fish and keep it in the refrigerator for 1 hr.
2. Make a paste of ginger garlic and green chilli and set aside.
3. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the fish flipping both the sides and keep it aside.
4. In same frying pan, add thinly sliced onion to left over oil and saute until its translucent, add ginger,garlic, green chilli paste saute until brown color, add tomatoes, saute for few seconds and add chopped coriander leaves, mint and combine well.
5. Add briyani masala, Red chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder , salt to taste and combine well.
6. Add fried fish,yogurt and mix well, if the gravy dry then add 3 tsp of water  if needed.
7. Cover and cook on low flame for about 5 mins.

Cooking the Rice:-

1. Soak the rice for 30 mins and drain keep it aside.
2. Heat the oil in the pan, add sliced onions, all spices and saute for few sec.
3. Boil the water, add rice and cook for 8 or 10 mins. (uncovered).
4. When rice done drain excess water immediately.Sprinkle the lime juice and keep it aside.

Cooking Dum Briyani method:-

1. Take a large pan on the lowest burner of your stove. 
2. The Flame should be at the lowest setting.
3. Layer the Fish masala and rice, sprinkle briyani masala, fried chasew nuts, fried onions,Coriander leaves, mint, ghee, saffron and warm milk over the rice as the final layering. Repeat this process.
4. Close it tight fitting and cook  for 15 mins and turn off the flame.

Serve hot with Raitha on the side.