This is a delicious custom recipe for Chemmeen (Prawns/Shrimp)  (ചെമ്മീൻ OR കൊഞ്ച്) biryani from my kitchen. As like any tasty biryani, the preparation is not that simple, but the extra effort you put is guaranteed to be paid off by its taste.

Also I did pay attention to make it healthy!!!

Ingredients

For Rice:

1. Basmati Rice       : 4 cups
2. Water                     : 5 cups
3. Coconut milk      : 1 cup
4. Onion (Sliced)    : 1 no.
5. Pasted Ginger, Garlic and Green Chilli             :  4 T Sp.
6. Turmeric Powder     : 1 pinch
7. Masalas (Cardamom -2,  Cinnamon stick -2, cloves -3)
8. Oil                          : 3 Tbl Sp.
9. Mint (Puthina) leaves                   : 10 to 15
10. Salt                        : to taste

For Shrimp (Chemmeen):

1. Shrimp                        : 1 kg
2. Chilli powder            : 4 T Sp.
3. Turmeric Powder   : 1 T Sp.
4. Garam Masala          : ½ T Sp.
5. Oil                          : For frying
6. Salt                        : To taste
7. Pasted Ginger & Garlic      : 2 T Sp.

For Masala:

1. Chopped Onion       : 3
2. Pasted Ginger, Garlic & Green Chilli       : 4 T Sp.
3. Tomato      : 2
4. Oil                : 4 Tbl sp.
5. Mint Leaves  : 15
6. Thick Coconut Milk  : 1 cup
7. Chilli Powder              : 2 T Sp.
8. Turmeric Powder     : ½ T Sp.
9. Garam Masala            : ½ Tsp.

Preparation (For Rice)

• In a pressure cooker, pour the oil and add the masalas and warm for ~2 mts
• Add sliced onion and Ginger, Garlic Green chilli paste.
• Add turmeric powder and saute till the onion look translucent.
• Add mint leaves & salt and sauté for 2 mts.
• Add water mixed with coconut milk.
• Add rice, and mix well.
• Close the lid of pressure cooker wait for 1 whistle.
• Turn of the stove and keep the cooker on it.
• Once pressure down, move the rice to a wide vessel.

Preparation (For Shrimp)

• Marinate the shrimp with all ingredients except oil, for minimum an hour.
• In a Kadai, pour the oil and medium fry the shrimp & keep aside

Preparation (For Masala)

• Heat a kadai, pour the oil, add the sliced onion and fry it for ~6 mts.
• Add the ginger garlic chilli paste and mix well
• Add chilli powder, turmeric powder, mint leaves and fry for another 3 mts.
• Add chopped tomatoes and sauté for about 20 mts, till the color becomes brown.
• Add coconut milk and half cup water to the mix and boil well.
• Add the fried shrimp and mix well.
• Wait until the Masala becomes thick.

For Dum

• Take a baking dish and brush it with a little ghee or oil.
• Spread alternate layers of rice and masala; starting and ending with rice.
• On top, sprinkle a little ghee and garam masala & garnish with chopped mint leaves.
• Cover tight with an aluminum foil.
• Preheat oven to 350 deg. And bake biriyani for 20 mts.

 Tip: If you are less worried of health, you can use ghee instead of oil and in more quantity. Also can use fried onion with cashew nuts for garnishing during Dum.