Bagara Khana

                          

Bagara khana is a spiced rice delicacy prepared in Telangana, India. Bagar meaning tempering, is basically an easy peasy plain Biryani recipe without any vegetables and masala powders.Bagara rice is also a popular rice dish in weddings or functions in Hyderabad apart from the famous Vegetable Dum Biriyani.Vegetarians who do not eat enjoy Hyderabad biryani this dish.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup oil or ghee
• 2 cups Rice(Ordinary or Basmati)
• 1 cup Onions sliced
• 1 chopped tomato
• 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cinnamon stick(Dalchini)
• 2-3 cardamoms(Elaichi)
• 1/2 tsp caraway seeds(Shaahi zeera)
• 1 tbsp chopped coriander
• 1 tbsp mint leaves
• 2-3 slit green chillies
• 4 cups water
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• salt to taste

Instructions

• In a heavy bottom pan heat oil,add the bay leaf, cinnamon stick, cardamoms, caraway seeds, add finely chopped onions and fry the onions till golden brown, add ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell disappears. Add drops of water so that the base of the pan does not burn(optional).

• Add the slit green chillies, saute well, add the chopped tomato, add the chopped coriander, mint leaves, saute well.

• Now add water and add salt to it, add few lemon drops and bring the water to a boil.

• Once the water is boiled transfer the washed rice into it.

• Cover the lid and cook the rice.

• Once it is almost done simmer the flame. If cooked on high flame the rice at the bottom may burn.

• Cook till it is done .

• Switch off the flame.

• Garnish it with chopped coriander.

Notes: We can use basmati rice or ordinary rice to make bagara khana. But if we are using Basmati Rice then soak the rice for about 30- 40 minutes as soaking makes the grain longer while cooking. Pulav can also be made in a pressure cooker. Just follow the first four steps and pressure cook for about 4 whistles and reduce little water if required. Always the water quantity should be double the amount of rice quantity. If we are using one cup of rice then use two cups of water when cooking in a cooking pot or any heavy bottom pan.When you are adding garam masala spices we can use the spices of our choice but the one I have used give a good flavor but we can add more spices if one intends to.