Quick and Easy Biryani Recipe for Hostel Students

Introduction

Living in a hostel can be an adventure filled with late-night study sessions, new friendships, and of course, the struggle to find tasty, home-cooked meals. If you’re craving the delicious flavors of biryani but don’t have the luxury of a fully-equipped kitchen, this quick and easy biryani recipe is for you. Made with minimal ingredients and a single pot, this hostel-friendly biryani will satisfy your cravings without breaking the bank or your schedule. I have made this biryani quite a lot of times and this is a quick step-by-step guide for you if you want to make mouth watering spicy biryani. As in previous blogs, I have told you about the essential Masalas I have with me to cook meals, hence we will use those Masalas and will make the delicious Biryani. I have added exact timings for your ease, you can change that if you are expert or according to your needs.

Lets start with the Ingredients;

Ingredients

For this simple biryani recipe, you’ll need:

1 cup rice
Half kg chicken with bones
1 large onion, finely sliced
2 tomatoes, cut in 4 parts
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 cup yogurt (Dahi)
1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 teaspoons biryani masala (available at most grocery stores)
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1 bay leaf (Tez patta)
2-3 cloves (Long)
2-3 cardamom (elaichi)
1 cinnamon stick (Daar chini)
1 tablespoon Salt or acc to taste
Fresh coriander and mint leaves for garnish
2 cups water

Tips for Hostel Cooking

If you got no cloves or bay leaves you can skip it, just add a 1/4th teaspoon of biryani masala you are using in place of these. Also if you got no ginger garlic, you can use ginger and garlic powder! Also you can use Vinegar in place of lemon juice or if your yogurt is sour, you can skip these.

Instructions

Preparation:
- Wash the rice thoroughly and soak it in water for about 20 minutes.
- For chicken, marinate it with a 1/2 cup yogurt,1 large spoonful of ginger garlic paste, a pinch of salt,1/4 teaspoon turmeric, 1tbspoon lemon juice, and 1/2 tablespoon red chili powder. Make small cuts in the chicken and Set aside. Marination for even 20 minutes is enough but if you have more time, that’s better!
Cooking the Biryani:
- Heat the oil in a large pot or deep pan over medium heat.
- Add 1 bay leaf, 6 cloves, 1 inch cinnamon stick, 1 star anise, 1 strand mace and 4 cardamoms. Sauté for a half minute.
- Add the sliced onions and cook until they turn golden brown. Don’t burn them, keep stirring. Once it turns brown, add little water to prevent them from turning black
- Remove half of the brown onion to a separate plate and add cumin seeds and marinated chicken.
- Also, add the chopped tomatoes(and if you have tamarind and plums, add at this point) and cover the pot and keep the flame medium to low for atleast 10-12 minutes.
- Cook until tomatoes become soft and the oil starts to separate.
- Now add 1 teaspoon of biryani masala,green chilies, and salt according to the amount of rice (In 1 cup of rice, 1/2 tablespoon of salt is added).

3. Adding Rice:

Drain the soaked rice and add it to the pot. Gently mix it with the masala
Pour in 2 cups of water and bring it to a boil.(Water is always added double than the rice, 1 cup rice=2cup water)
Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat to low medium and let it cook.
When all the water has been absorbed, add yellow food color mixed in 1/8th cup of milk on one side. Also you can add mint leaves, green chillies and corriander.
Now cover the pot with a lid, and let it cover for another 15 minutes.

4. Final Touches:

Fluff the biryani gently with a fork to mix the flavors evenly.
Garnish with fresh coriander and mint leaves.

Final thoughts

Making a delicious biryani in a hostel doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With this quick and easy recipe, you can enjoy a flavorful and satisfying meal that’s sure to remind you of home. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or sharing with friends, this biryani is a great way to bring a taste of tradition to your hostel life. So, grab your ingredients, fire up your stove (or electric cooker), and treat yourself to a delightful homemade biryani!

Enjoy your cooking adventure, and don’t forget to share this recipe with your hostel mates. Happy cooking!