Verkkadalai Biryani (Groundnut Biryani)

Ingredients:

Basmati Rice           -  1 1/4 cups
Groundnuts             -  1/2 cup

Verkkadalai Biryani

Onion                     -  2 nos
Tomato                   -  1 no
Ginger                     - 1/2 inch
Garlic                      -  4 pearls
Green chilies            -  2 nos
Mint leaves              -  10 - 12 leaves
Fresh coriander       -  1 table spoon
Fresh curd               -  1/2 cup
Jeera powder           -  1 tea spoon
Coriander powder    -  1 tea spoon
Red chili powder      -  1 tea spoon
Cloves                     -  4 nos
Cinnamon stick        -  1/2 inch
Ghee                       -  2 table spoons
Sugar                      -  1 tea spoon
Salt to taste

1.  Wash and soak rice in 1 and 3/4 cups of water for 1/2 hr.
2.  Wash and soak groundnuts in water for 15 mins.
3.  Finely chop onions, tomatoes and green chilies.
4.  Grind together ginger and garlic.
5.  Heat ghee in a kadai, add the cloves, finely broken cinnamon sticks, then add the chopped onions and green chilies.
6.  As soon as the onions turn transparent, add the tomatoes, ginger garlic paste, stir cook till the tomatoes are soft.
7.  Add jeera powder, coriander powder, red chili powder and drained ground nuts, stir well.
8.  After a few mins add the finely chopped mint leaves, coriander leaves, stir for a minute and add curd.
9.  Stir for 1 min. then add the soaked rice along with the water, salt and sugar and cook till the rice is nicely done.
10.Serve hot with raita.