Simple Veg Biryani made with Zeeraka Sambha | Chitti Mutyalu Rice

This special Biryani made with the South Indian version of the Basmati Rice is so delicious and filled with the rich combined flavours of your favourite vegetables, spices and curds that the smells that waft out announce that Veg Biryani is being cooked in the house that day.

I call this recipe of Veg Biryani my ‘Lazy Day Recipe’. Believe me, it is that simple to make!Just cook the veggies till tender, add the soaked rice and cook till water dries out. That’s all!!Wonder!! This is not at all a difficult recipe. And it doesn’t hours and hours to make! To tell you thetruth, it is so simple almost everyone knows how to make it. The only special feature is theway the Tamilians make it. You’ll agree with me that the taste of food feels different depending on who made it and how. The difference lies in the method and the chef’s touch.

In the same way the way the Tamilians make the Veg Biryani is slightly different from how it is made elsewhere. The rice used for this Biryani is called Chittimutyalu by the Telugu speaking people. Tamil speakers refer to it as Zeeraka Sambha. For the South Indians this variety of rice is equivalent to what Basmati rice is to the North Indians. The grains of rice look like tiny pearls so the rice is referred to Chitti Mutyalu (Tiny pearls). Actually this rice is more in use among the Tamil households than among the Telugus.

The Chitti Mutyalu rice is very fragrant like the Basmati Rice. This rice is used for preparing Biryani, Pulao and Payasam etc. The rice is also referred to as ‘Son-in-Law’s Rice’. When the new Son in Law comes to the house, he is served Payasam (Kheer) made from Chitti Mutyalu rice.

You may also like this Hyderabadi Egg Dum Biryani

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Tips

Chitti Mutyalu/ Zeeraka Sambha:

• This rice is very fragrant, like the Basmati rice. You must definitely try this rice. If it is not available, you may use any good ordinary rice. Remember to soak it. Else, you may use Basmati rice. Just remember that the ratio of rice to water for Chitti Mutyalu is 1:2

Vegetables:

• You need not use the same vegetables that I have mentioned or used. You may take all together one cupful of any available vegetables. If you fancy mushrooms or Paneer, go ahead and use them.

• Do not cut the vegetables into small pieces. If the vegetables are of medium size, their size makes the taste stand out when you are eating the Biryani.

• In the Tamilian version of Veg Biryani, the Tomato pieces are added after the other vegetables are cooked. Rice is added immediately after that. In this way, the tomatoes are not allowed to soften to a pulp. It is considered correct to have the tomato pieces be felt in the bite along with the rice.

Hot Water:

• Using hot water ensures the grains to be well separated after cooking. Adding cold water destroys the taste of the roasted and fried masalas. Moreover, adding cold water forces the rice to boil for too long and the rice becomes too soft. Biryani rice should never be lumpy and soft.

Esaru (Boiling water for cooking rice):

• When the Esaru, the base liquid for the Biryani (here, the water with Vegetables and spices) is boiling, check for seasoning. It is better if the Esaru is slightly on a higher side in salt and spices. The taste will adjust itself after rice is added to the boiling water (Esaru). Salt can be also adjusted when the rice is cooked half way through. If the spiciness looks to be bland, just sprinkle a few chopped green chilli and close the lid after the Biryani is completely ready.

Chilli Powder:

• This Biryani does not need any red chilli powder. I have used just a little red chilli powder for colour, that’s all.

Simple Veg Biryani made with Zeeraka Sambha | Chitti Mutyalu Rice - Recipe Video

Simple Veg Biryani made with Zeeraka Sambha | Chitti Mutyalu Rice

Bachelors Recipes | vegetarian
  • Prep Time 5 mins
  • Soaking Time 1 hr
  • Cook Time 30 mins
  • Resting Time 15 mins
  • Total Time 1 hr 50 mins
  • serves 4

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup Oil
  • 1 Star Anise (Anaasa Puvvu)
  • 1/2 tbsp Pepper corns
  • 4 Cardamom
  • 6-7 Cloves
  • 2” Cinnamon stick
  • 1 Bay Leaf (Tez Patta)
  • 15 Cashew Nuts
  • 1 cup . Onions (thinly sliced)
  • 2 Green Chillies (Sliced)
  • 1 cup Cauliflower, Carrot, and beans (cut into medium pieces) (all together)
  • 1/4 cup Tomato (diced)
  • 1 tbsp . Ginger Garlic Paste
  • 1/4 cup Curd
  • 1 ½ cups Chitti Mutyalu Rice ( soaked for one hour)
  • 1 Bunch Mint Leaves (Pudina)
  • 1 Bunch Coriander (Kothmir)
  • 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 3 cups Hot water

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil and fry the spices and cashew nuts. Fry till golden brown.
  2. Add slit green chillies, sliced onions and fry till the onions turn a golden shade.
  3. Put in the diced vegetables and ginger garlic paste. Mix well and close the lid. The vegetables will get half cooked within 4 minutes.
  4. Add Curds and a little bit of Pudina and Kothmir. Fry till the curds get well mixed into the curry.
  5. Add the diced tomatoes and the hot water and let the esaru (the water with spices and vegetables) come to a fine boil.
  6. Now drain the water from the soaked rice and add the rice to the boiling water along with the Mint,lemon juice and Coriander leaves. Mix gently so as not to break the rice. Close the lid and leave the Biryani to cook on a medium flame for 7-8 minutes. After 8 minutes,mix gently once more once and let the Biryani cook completely.
  7. Once the rice is done, put the stove off and leave the vessel undisturbed for approximately for 15 minutes. The rice will absorb any excess water and will be cooked to an ideal texture with dry, well- separated grain.
  8. The Chitti Mutyalu Biryani goes very well with cold onion Raita

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9 comments

  • S
    Shravya
    Supper anna me foods very tasty 😋😋
  • S
    Sushil Kumar Rachuri
    Recipe Rating:
    I enjoyed it aroma fragrance. After some hours it’s taste enhanced. What a yummy taste.
  • D
    Deepika
    Hello sir Nenu edaina recipe cheyali ante first mi YouTube channel lo search cheyalsinde ni recipe follow ayipotha without any second thought.The way you explain the recipes in your videos is ultimate.Thank you so much for your channel and videos.It helps us alot .All the best and keep doing . Ulavacharu chicken biryani ledu mi channel lo search chesthe if possible ha recipe cheyandi.Thank you.
  • E
    Ejjivarapu NAGARAJU
    Super
  • K
    Karthu
    Recipe Rating:
    All recipes are yummy with perfect measurements and taste... It comes perfect❤👌
  • V
    Vanitha
    Super tasty
  • S
    Sai Kumar
    super recipe
  • G
    Gopi Krishna
    Recipe Rating:
    Excellent...
  • A
    Abhishek
    Recipe Rating:
    I tried almost all recipies but i didn't comment any one sry for the late response sir we love the way u cook thank u soo much for your recipies