Kolambi Bhat

Instructions

• Marinade Prawns with Salt, turmeric, chili powder,hing, garlic paste, and a piece of Kokam (you can also use lime juice) for 1 hour.
• Wash and soak basmati rice for 30 mins 3)Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds and then the whole Garam masala till nice aroma comes from the spices.
• Add chopped Onions and fry till light brown
• Then add ginger garlic paste (you can also use 2 tsp ginger, garlic, green chilli, coriander leaf chutney). Saute till raw flavors go away.
• Add tomatoes, some salt and cover cook for 2 mins or till the tomatoes become soft. (Raw smell of tomatoes should disappear.
• Now add the dry masala (turmeric,chilli powder, coriander n cumin powder, garam masala, goda masala)and the slit green chilli and saute till the spices get cooked and oil separates.
• Add marinated prawns, mix well and let it cook for 10 mins ( prawns should be 90 % cooked).
• Add soaked basmati rice (do not add water at this point) mix and cover cook the prawns n rice for 3 mins with stirring in between (to avoid food sticking and burning)
• Add salt to taste and 1 and 1/2 cups hot water. ( use water as per your experience..for me 1 n 1/2 cup water works well for 1 cup rice..2 cups make the rice soft.
• cover and cook on medium heat for 10 mins then lower the heat to minimum and let it cook for another 20-30 mins.
• Turn off the gas and let the rice rest for 5-10 mins.
• Garnish with Cilantro.
• Serve with raita or just as it is with freshly grated coconut and a wedge of lemon.