Chemmeen / Prawn Kabsa

Ingredients:

250 m prawns, cleaned

1 1/2 cup basmati rice

2 onions

3 tomatoes

1 tbsp ginger paste/ crushed

1 tbsp garlic paste / crushed

4 green chillies, chopped

1- 1 1/2 tsp chilli powder

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

2 + 1/4 tsp kabsa masala

1 tsp pepper powder

1/4 tsp garam masala

3 cloves

3 cardamoms

2 piece cinnamon

1 bay leaf

1 dry lemon

salt to taste

oil, as required

chopped coriander leaves

Preparation:

1. Wash and soak the rice in water for 15 minutes.
2. Clean the prawns and marinate it ( keep 4-5 prawns aside for grinding) with chilli powder, turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp kabsa masala, salt and 1 tsp water and keep it aside.
3. Grind /grate 4-5 prawns and keep it aside
4. Grind the chopped tomatoes using a blender / food processor and then strain adding water ( make about 3 cups of tomato juice). Keep it aside.
5. Heat little oil in a pan and shallow fry the marinated prawns and keep it aside.
6. In the same oil, add sliced onions and little salt and saute.
7. Add chopped green chillies, ginger paste and garlic paste and saute well.
8. Add ground prawns and little water to this and mix well.
9. Add pepper powder, 2 tsp kabsa masala, garam masala and chopped coriander leaves and mix well. Masala is ready...
10. Heat a large pan and add oil. Add cloves, cinnamon, cardamons and bay leaf and saute.
11. Add 3 cups of tomato juice ( step 4) and little salt. When it boils, add dry lemon, drained rice and prepared masala and mix well.
12. Adjust the salt and cook covered till done at low flame, stirring once in between.
13. When cooked, add the fried prawns on top. Garnish with coriander leaves, switch off the flame and keep it covered till ready to serve...