Flavorful Rice And Lentils Biryani/ Masoor Dal Biryani Recipe

Who says you need meat to have an incredible meal! Masoor Biryani is packed with flavors and you won't even miss the meat in the slightest! This is the most easiest rice recipe I have ever come across. It's easy, healthy, doesn't require many ingredients and it will leave you craving more!

The Masoor Biryani recipe comes all straight from the houses of India. It has lentils, rice, potatoes and an aromatic flavor that we all love to eat. You can add different types of lentils as per your liking's but the rice tastes best with Masoor dal. Non-veg hoggerz don't get disappointed with this Veg dish as the good news is that you can add minced chicken while cooking it's gravy. So, in short, this dish will pamper the heart and comfort the soul with its spicy and flavorful taste.

Flavorful Masoor Dal Biryani

Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Serves: 2 persons

Ingredients:

1 cup Rice

1/2 cup Masoor dal or Red lentil

1/2 cup washed, peeled and chopped potatoes
1/2 cup sliced capsicum

1 medium size, roughly chopped onion

2 large size, roughly chopped tomatoes

4 washed curry leaves

4 cloves

7 black peppercorns

1 bay leaf

1 teaspoon cumin seeds or zeera

1 teaspoon mustard seeds or rai

1 tablespoon garlic paste

1 tablespoon ginger paste

1/2 tablespoon green chili paste

2 tablespoons red chili powder

1 tablespoon coriander powder

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

1/4 teaspoon garam masala powder

1 tablespoon roughly chopped cilantro or coriander leaves

Salt to taste

Method:

• Separately wash rice and red lentils and soak them in the water half hour before the cooking process.
• In a pan, heat oil and add 1 teaspoon cumin seeds and 1 teaspoon of mustard seeds and let them pop for a second. Immediately, add 4 cloves, 7 black peppercorns, 1 bay leaf and let it fry until fragrant. Now add 4 washed curry leaves and roughly chopped onion. Saute well and let the onions cook until translucent.
• Add roughly chopped tomatoes and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cover the pan and cook for 2 minutes under medium heat.
• Add 1 tablespoon of ginger paste, 1 tablespoon of garlic paste, 1/2 tablespoon of green chili paste and let it fry for 1-2 minutes on a medium flame. Add 2 tablespoons of red chili powder, 1 tablespoon coriander powder, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder and fry until the oil separates from the mixture. 
• Strain the water from the soaked red lentils and add into the pan. Add chopped potatoes and mix well. Add 2 cups of water and cook the potatoes and lentils on a low-medium flame for about 10 minutes.
• If you want to make a non-veg version of this recipe then - Simply add minced chicken and let it cook for about 15-20 minutes. Once the minced chicken is done, add red lentils and chopped potatoes and cook for another 10 minutes, so that red lentils and chopped potatoes are cooked evenly with minced chicken.
• Now on a high flame, add the sliced capsicum and strained rice into the biryani gravy and put 1/4 teaspoon garam masala powder. Bring it to boil. Always add water to rice until it is 1-2 inch above the top of the rice otherwise rice usually gets overcooked.
• Adjust the salt and seasoning as needed and mix well. Cover the pan and let it cook on a low flame for about 10 minutes. Turn off the flame as soon as the rice is done. 
• Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with fresh salad or chilled yogurt.

I hope you enjoy cooking as well as eating this healthy lentil meal.