Kolambi Bhaat (Prawn rice)

A rice preparation from Maharashtra. Rice within the Maharashtrian communities is known as ‘bhaat’. ‘Kolambi Bhaat’ is similar to pulao, where, prawns are cooked in  ground spice and the rice is added at a later stage. You may make this Pulao with any fish fillet.

Ingredients

1. Basmati Rice  – 1 cup
2. Prawn deshelled & deveined – 200gms
3. Fresh coriander leaves – 1/2 cup
4. Fresh mint leaves – 15-18
5. Garlic – 5-6 cloves
6. Ginger – 1 inch piece
7. Green chillies – 4
8. Cinnamon – 1 + 1 inch stick
9. Cardamoms  – 2 +2
10. Cloves – 3+3
11. Cumin seeds – ½ + ½  teaspoon
12. Pepper – 4+ 4
13. Onion cube cut – 1
14. Tomato cubed – 1
15. Coconut milk  – ¾ cup  ( ½ coconut )
16. Oil  – 3 tablespoons
17. Onions thin slices – 2 medium
18. Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
19. Chili powder – ½ tsp
20. Salt to taste
21. Water – 1 ½ cup

Instructions

1. Add some salt to the prawns, mix and keep aside.
2. Soak rice in water for half an hour, drain and keep aside.
3. Grind together ingredients 3-14 into a fine paste. (keep aside the other half of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves cumin and pepper for frying ).
4. Heat oil in a non-stick pan, add sliced onion and fry till crispy brown, add the remaining garam masala ( instruction 1 ) also to this and fry for a few seconds.
5. Add the grind green paste to the onion fry and fry again till oil comes to the top and green masala leaves the raw taste.
6. Add red chili powder, turmeric powder and salt to the masala preparation, mix well and fry for a few seconds.
7. Add prawns to this masala preparation, mix well and cook for 5 minutes.
8. Add coconut milk, water, rice, mix, adjust the taste of salt, cover and cook on medium flame until water evaporates completely and rice is done.
9. Serve with cucumber raitha/ pickle of your choice.