Ingredients

For the masala:
✅ 5 onions, sliced (for frying)
✅ 10 green chilies, blended
✅ 2 tomatoes, blended
✅ 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
✅ 1 handful fresh coriander leaves
✅ 1 tbsp curd (yogurt)
✅ 1 tbsp lemon juice
✅ 10-12 cashews, soaked and blended

For the rice:
✅ 5 boiled eggs
✅ 5 cloves
✅ ½ stick cinnamon
✅ 5 cardamoms
✅ 1 bay leaf
✅ 5 tsp ghee
✅ 2 cups basmati rice (washed & soaked for 30 minutes)
✅ 4 cups water
✅ Salt to taste

For garnish:
✅ Fried onions & cashews
✅ Fresh coriander leaves (because biryani should always look as good as it tastes) 

Step-by-Step Cooking

Step 1: Build the Flavor Bomb

1️⃣ Fry the sliced onions in a pan with oil until golden and crispy. (This step takes time, but trust me, it’s worth it.)
2️⃣ Add the blended green chilies and tomatoes. Stir and cook until the oil starts separating.
3️⃣ Mix in the ginger-garlic paste—this is where your kitchen starts smelling amazing.
4️⃣ Toss in the coriander leaves and give it a good stir.
5️⃣ Add curd and lemon juice, letting the flavors blend beautifully.
6️⃣ Pour in the blended cashew paste and stir. This step makes the masala creamy and rich—Ummama swears by it!

💡 Pro Tip: Caramelizing the onions slowly brings out their natural sweetness and deepens the biryani’s flavor. Don’t rush this!

Step 2: The Star of the Show—The Eggs

7️⃣ Boil and peel the eggs. (Try not to break them—we want them whole and pretty!)
8️⃣ Add them to the masala and fry gently until they are well coated. Let them soak up all those delicious spices.

💡 Pro Tip: Lightly score the eggs with a knife before frying—this helps them absorb more flavor.

Step 3: The Fragrant Rice

9️⃣ In another pot, heat ghee and add cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and bay leaf. Fry until fragrant.
🔟 Add the soaked basmati rice and stir well, letting it absorb all the ghee and spices.
1️⃣1️⃣ Pour in 4 cups of water, lemon juice, and salt. Cover and cook until the water is fully absorbed.

💡 Pro Tip: The secret to perfectly fluffy biryani rice? Leave it alone. No stirring! Just let it cook undisturbed.

Step 4: The Perfect Layering

1️⃣2️⃣ Once the rice is done, gently layer it over the egg masala. Keep the flame low.
1️⃣3️⃣ Top with fried onions, roasted cashews, and a handful of fresh coriander.
1️⃣4️⃣ Cover and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. This final steaming step blends all the flavors beautifully. 

🍽️ How to Serve It Like Ummama

✅ Pair it with cooling raita, crunchy pappadums, and a spicy pickle on the side. But not just any pickle, Ummama always makes her own homemade mango pickle! Tangy, fiery, and packed with flavor, it’s the perfect companion to this rich biryani. A spoonful of that pickle alongside a bite of biryani? Pure magic. ✨

✅ Serve it hot because biryani is best enjoyed fresh!
✅ Watch everyone’s face light up after the first bite—it’s that good.

Now that you know Ummama’s special biryani, it’s time to make it your own. If she can make magic in the kitchen, you can too! 🍛✨