Kuska Biryani-Kuska Rice-How to Make Biryani without Vegetables or Meat

Kuska is a plain biryani without vegetables and meat. It is easy to make and tastes super delicious. It is so good that nothing stays on your plate. It can be paired with onion raita or mixed vegetable raita, potato chips and papads. Even this simple Brinjal chops side dish also goes well with kuska rice.

If you are looking for more Biryani recipes here are some:

Mushroom Biryani

Soya chunks biryani

Vegetable Biryani

Tomato biryani

Field Beans Biryani

Egg Biryani

Watch the video of making Kuska

How to Make Kuska Biryani
Serves – 2 

Ingredients for Kuska

Basmati rice – 1 cup
Oil – 2 tbsp
Ghee – 1 tsp
Onion – 1  (chopped lengthwise)
Tomato – 1 small or 1/2 a big one
Salt needed (approximately 2 tsps flat for 1 cup of rice)
Mint leaves – fistful
Coriander leaves – fistful
Thick curd – 2 tbsp
Hot water – 2 cups

Spice powder

Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp
Chilli powder – 1 tsp
Biryani Masala Powder – 1 tsp (readymade masala)

For the seasoning

Fennel seeds – 1 tsp
Star anise – 1 optional
Bay leaf – 1

Masala Ingredients

Oil – 2 tbsp
Cloves – 2
Cinnamon – 1 inch piece
Cardamom – 1
Garlic cloves – 3-4
Ginger – 2 inch pcs
Green Chilli – 1 or as needed
Onion – 1 small size
Tomato – 1/2 a big tomato
Mint leaves – few
Coriander leaves -few

Preparations 

Wash and soak 1 cup of basmati rice for 30 minutes.

Preparing of Masala Paste

In a kadai, heat 2 tbsp of oil, when oil is hot add cloves, cinnamon and cardamom

Saute for a few seconds, then add ginger, garlic and green chillies.

Add onions and saute until it turns transparent. Add salt needed.

Add tomato, mint leaves, coriander leaves and saute until tomato turns soft.

Once tomato turns soft, turn off the heat. Leave it to cool.

Once it cools, grind it to a smooth paste. Our masala paste for making kuska rice is ready.

Method

1.Heat 2 tbsp oil + 1 tsp ghee in a cooker or any container.

2.When oil is hot, add fennel seeds, star anise and 1 bay leaf. When fennel seeds sizzle, add 1 onion chopped lengthwise.

3.Saute until onion turn golden brown.

4.Add 1/2  a tomato, 1/4 tsp turmeric powder, a tsp of chilli powder, biryani masala powder, fistful of coriander and mint leaves and cook until tomatoes turn soft.

5.Then add the paste we prepared and mix well.

6.Lower the heat and add 2 tbsp of thick curd. Saute for few seconds.

7.Add 2 cups of hot water. Check for salt by tasting the water. It should be slightly salty. If required, add salt at this stage.

8.Once water starts to boil, add the soaked and drained rice.

9.Pressure cook on medium heat for 2 whistles.

10.Once pressure subsides, open the cooker and fluff the rice with a fork. Let it sit for 5 minutes.

11.Then enjoy it piping hot with any pachadi/raita or papads or chips.

Recipe Card for Kuska Biryani