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biryani rice kuska

Biryani rice (Kuska rice)

Plain biryani rice recipe - Also known as plain kuska is made without veggies and is served with any salan or biryani gravy. It can also be served with raita.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips.

© Swasthi's Recipes

Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Servings4
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )

  • 2 cups rice (preferably basmati)
  • 3.5 cups water or stock (chicken or veg stock)
  • 2 to 2 ½ tbsp Oil
  • ½ cup onion thinly sliced (or about 1 lmedium)
  • 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
  • ½ cup tomato chopped ( or about 1 large, deseeded)
  • Salt as needed
  • Handful mint (or pudina & coriander)
  • ¼ cup curd or fresh yogurt (do not use sour one)

Spices for kuska

  • 1 bay leaf (or tej patta)
  • 4 to 6 cloves (or laung)
  • 4 to 6 green cardamoms (or elaichi)
  • 1 star anise (or chakri phool)
  • ½ tsp shahi jeera (or jeera)
  • 1 strand mace (or javitri)
  • 1 cinnamon (or dalchini) two inch
  • ¼ tsp Turmeric (or haldi)
  • ½ to ¾ tsp red chili powder (or lal mirch powder)
  • 1 to 1 ½ tsp biryani masala powder (any readymade will do) (optional)

How to make the recipe

How to make kuska rice biryani

  • Rinse and soak rice for at least 20 minutes. Drain water completely. Set aside.
  • Heat a pressure cooker or a heavy bottom pan with oil. Add spices and fry till they turn fragrant.
  • Next add onions and fry till onions turn golden.
  • Add ginger garlic paste and fry till it gets fragrant. Do not burn
  • Transfer tomatoes,curd, red chili powder, pudina, coriander, salt and turmeric. If using biryani masala powder add it now.
  • Fry till tomatoes turn mushy, soft and pulpy. The mixture begins to leave the oil as well.
  • Pour water or stock and bring water to a boil. adjust the salt (you could vary the amount of water based on your rice)
  • Add rice and cook till very little water is left. refer the pic
  • Cover the pressure cooker with the lid, cook on a low flame for 3 to 5 mins. Do not let the cooker whistle.
  • if cooking in a pan or casserole, just cover tightly and cook till the rice is fully done. it could take around 5 mins. If using normal rice, allow to whistle once.
  • Let the pressure go off, then fluff up the biryani kuska rice.

NUTRITION (estimation only)

Calories: 382kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 64mg | Potassium: 241mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 235IU | Vitamin C: 4.9mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 2.1mg