Chettinad Kola Biryani(Veg)

For Biryani

Basmatic Rice-2 cups

Ghee-1 tbsp

Coconut milk-2 cups

Water-1 cup

Mint leaves-1/2 cup

Coriander leaves-1/2 cup

Tomato-3,medium size

Onion-3,medium size

Ginger Garlic paste-2 tsp

Turmeric powder-1/2 tsp

Cinnomon stick-1" inch

Lavangam/Cloves-4

Cardomon/elakai-3

Green chillies,slited-6

Oil-3 tsp

Salt to taste

For Kola

Pudalangai/Snakegourd-1/4 kilo

Coconut,grated-1 tsp

Ginger-1"inch

Sombu/Fennel seeds-1/2 tsp

Coriander leaves-1/2 cup

Bengal gram dal-1/2 cup

Garlic cloves-5 cloves

Green chillies-2

Red chillies-2

Cinnamon-1"inch

Cloves-1

Small Onion,peeled-5

Oil to deep fry

Method

Cut the snake gourd horizontal into 4 long slices...Discard the white pulp and seeds in the center..Grate the snake gourd in chips slicer....Sprinkle half tsp of salt and mash it.Set aside for 10 minutes

Wash Basmatic rice and soak it in coconut milk

Squeeze the snakegourd until all the water drains out

Soak the bengal gram dal for an hour...Prepare the ingredients for kola

Grind them into fine paste without adding water

Make the paste into balls and deep fry them in medium flame

For Biryani,Add the ghee,oil dry spices in the pan

Add the Onions,tomato and Coriander and mint leaves and saute them well

Add salt and turmeric powder ,saute till the tomatoes is semi cooked

Add the rice, the coconut milk and the water (washed out from the kola paste mixie)

Add the kola to the rice and cook it for 3 whistles

Ready to serve

The usual chettinad recipe uses roasted channa dal(Pottukadalai) instead of channa dal ......The kola made with snake gourd is simply out standing in taste...

Please try this recipe and let me know how you liked it..