Chana/Chickpea Biryani

Ingredients:-

Basmati Rice - 2 cup

Cinnamon stick - 1

Bay leaves - 2

Cloves- 3

Cardamom-3

Butter - 3 tsp

Lime juice- 1 tsp

Salt tp taste

Hot water - 4 cups ( add 1/2 more cup depending on the rice)

For Channa Masala 

Chana/chickpeas - 1 cup

Onion chopped - 1

Tomato chopped - 1

Green chili chopped - 1

Ginger - garlic paste - 2 tsp

Chili powder - 1 tsp

Coriander powder - 1/2 tsp

Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

Garam masala - 1 1/2 tsp

Yogurt - 1/4 cup

Bay leaves - 2

Salt to taste

Butter/oil

mint leaves

For garnish

Cilantro

cashew nuts

Onion finely chopped

Method

Soak Channa for 6- 8 hours. Pressure cook the channa with salt to taste till it is done 3 whistles will be ideal .I used canned Channa, so i dint have to soak  and cook it.

Cooking Rice

Soak the basmati rice for atleast 15 minutes and drain well.Heat oil/butter in a pan and add the whole spices- cinnamon, bay leaves, cloves and cardamom and fry it for a minute. Add the rice and fry it for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently . Pour 4 cups of water ( some kind need 4 1/2 cups ) , salt and lime juice  and cook  it covered till the rice is done.

Making Masala

Heat butter/oil in a pan and add Bay leaves. add chopped onions and saute well for 5-6 minutes . add chopped green chile, ginger-garlic paste and chopped tomato and saute for 4-5 minutes, or until oil starts to seperate.

Add chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala and salt and combine it well.

Add the soaked and cooked channa and mix well.Pour 1/4 cup of beaten yogurt and 1/4 cup water ,mint leaves and cook it covered till it is dry.

You can either mix the prepared rice and masala , by simply adding the masala to the rice, mix well and simmering it for 4-5 minutes.or You can layer it in an oven proof or micro wave proof dish and arrange rice and masala in layers , cover it with an aluminium foil and bake @ 350 degree for 10-12 minutes in oven and 6-7 minutes in a microwave.

For garnish, fry finely chopped onions and raisins till golden brown and sprinkle on top of the biryani with chopped cilantro.

Cheers!!!!!!