Plain biryani recipe

INGREDIENTS:

1. Basmati rice - 1 1/2 cup
2. Onion - 3
3. Ginger - 1 inch
4. Garlic - 7 clove
5. Tomato - 2
6. Mint leaf - handful
7. Coriander leaf - handful
8. Chili powder - 1/2 teaspoon (tsp.)
9. Biryani masala powder - 1/2 teaspoon (tsp.)
10. Turmeric powder - little
11. Green chili - 2
12. Lemon - 1/2
13. Salt - as needed
14. -- Dry roast and grind to powder --
    1. Cinnamon stick - 1 piece
    2. Clove - 2
    3. Cardamom - 1
    4. Black pepper - 4
    5. Cumin seed - a pinch
    6. Fennel seed - a pinch
    7. Nutmeg - 1/4
    8. Mace (nutmeg skin) - 1/4
    9. Star anise - a small piece
15. -- For Tempering --
    1. Bay leaf - 1
    2. Cinnamon stick - a piece
    3. Clove - 2
    4. Cardamom - 2
    5. Oil - 3 tablespoon (tbsp.)

PREPARATION:

1. Grind ginger and garlic into a paste or crush them well.
2. Thinly slice onion.
3. Chop tomato, mint leaves, coriander leaves into small pieces.
4. Dry roast all the ingredients under the section "-- Dry roast and grind to powder --" until you smell aroma (don't burn it) and grind them into powder after cooling them to room temperature.
5. Soak the rice in water and drain all the water and keep it aside (make sure the rice is left with no water).
6. In a pan head oil. Add bay leaf, cinnamon stick, clove, cardamom and sauté for few seconds.
7. Now add the onion and sauté until they become translucent.
8. Now add ginger, garlic paste (or crushed) and sauté until the raw smell is gone.
9. Now add tomato, green chili and sauté tomato become mushy.
10. Now add the coriander, mint leaves and sauté them.
11. Now add Chili powder, Biryani masala powder, Turmeric powder and sauté until the raw smell is gone.
12. Now add 2 1/2 - 3 cup of water, salt and bring to boil. NOTE: make sure the ratio rice to liquid is 1:2 for sambar rice and 1 : 1 1/2 for basmati rice.
13. Now add the soaked rice. Place a lid; simmer and cook until rice is cooked 3/4th.
14. Now sprinkle the ground powder, lemon juice. Place a lid, simmer (dum) and cook until the biryani is done and serve.

NOTES: