AYAKURA BIRIYANI / FISH BIRIYANI

Ingredients :
Fish(King Fish) - 1 Pound
Basmati Rice - 3 cup
Onion - 2 Big
Tomato - 1 Big
Ginger - 1 piece
Garlic - 5-6 Flakes
Green Chilli - 15(As per your spice level)
Chilli Powder - 1Tsp
Turmeric Powder - A pinch
Salt - 1 Tsp
Curds - 3 Tsp
Lemon Juice - 1 Tsp
Coriander Leaves - A handful
Mint Leaves - A handful
Ghee - For Frying(Optional)

For Masala :
Cinnamon,Cardamom,Cloves,Star Anise - 5-8
Bay leaves - 4-6
Grind all together to a fine powder.

Method :
1) Marinate the fish pieces with chilli powder,Turmeric and salt and keep for 1/2 hour.
2) Crush ginger,Garlic and Green chilli.
3) Wash the rice and drain the water well and keep for some time.Fry the rice with little ghee,when little crispy,add water,little salt,2-3 cinnamon and cook the rice.(If in rice cooker, add 5 cups of water for 3 cup rice.)

4) Mix the sliced onions,tomato,crushed paste,curds,lemon juice,salt,turmeric in a cooker and wait for 1 whistle and then remove from the stove.Mean while, fry the marinated fish pieces lightly.Do not fry much,as it will not absorb the masala later.After frying,transfer it to a paper towel.

5) Open the cooker and cook the ingredients well for some time.When the water is almost dried add the fish pieces to it and fry for sometime.Then add the above ground masala powder,coriander leaves,mint leaves and little lemon juice and cook for some time.Thats it,your fish masala is ready.

6) Fry little onions in ghee till golden brown and keep aside.In a tray, arrange rice and the masala in layers.First the rice and second layer is the fish masala,sprinkle little ground masala powder(above mentioned one),lemon juice,coriander leaves and fried onions.Repeat the steps ,the final layer should be rice.

7) Cover it with an aluminium sheet or a wet paper towel.Preheat the oven for few mins,and keep the tray in the oven for at least 10 mins.The Fish biriyani is ready to be served.You can use any big fish like king fish,pamfret etc.