Bitter-Gourd Biryani!!!

The word 'Biryani'can make anybody's taste-buds tickle and salivate.This is a very interesting version of it made with Bitter-Gourd.'Many'dont like the bitter taste of this vegetable thereby not consuming it and ignoring the health benefits.
Fortunately my Family falls in the 'Few' category and my task becomes all the more easy as I dont have to make an effort to make it like them and I dont put any sour or sweet ingredient in it to cut down the bitterness.
This recipe is for all who fall in the 'Many'category so i have added a little amount of jaggery and dried mango powder to cut the bitterness a little.Once you get used to this vegetable You will all love it to be more bitter.

Give it a try!!!

Cooking Time:20mins
Preparation Time:10mins
Serves: 2-3 persons

Ingredients:

• Rice- 2 cups
• Bitter Gourd- 1(large size)
• Nigella Seeds/kalonji- 1/4tsp
• Fenugreek Seeds/Methi seeds- 1/4tsp
• Onions(sliced)- 1
• Tomatoes(chopped)- 1
• Yogurt- 1/2cup
• Dried mango powder/Aamchur powder-1/2tsp
• Jaggery/Gur- 1tsp
• Corriander powder/dhanya powder-1/2 tsp
• Red chili powder-1tsp
• Ginger&Garlic paste- 1tsp
• Turmeric powder/haldi- 1/4tsp
• Mint leaves/Pudina- 10 leaves
• Whole garam masala-2 cloves/laung,4 peppercorns/kali mirch,2 cardamom/elaichi,1/2 tsp Caraway seeds/shahjeera,2"cinnamon stick,1 bay leay/tej patta
• Salt to taste
• Oil-1/4 cup 

Cooking Method:

• Wash the rice and soak it for 15-20 mins
• Scrape the skin of Bitter-Gourd,cut in diagonal slices and remove the seeds.
• Heat oil in a vessel add Nigella and fenugreek seeds,saute for 30 secs and then put the onions,cook till golden brown
• At this point add the tomatoes and beaten yogurt,Ginger&Garlic paste,turmeric powder,Red chilli powder,Corriander powder,salt.Cook till tomatoes are soft.
• Add jaggery and dried mango powder.and put the Bitter-Gourd slices.add little water and Cook for 1o mins covered on a slow flame till the mixture is cooked.
• Meanwhile for 1 cup of rice take 3 cups of water,add salt and whole garam masala and let it boil.Add rice and cook till it is 3/4th done.strain the water and add mint leaves.
• In a vessel put layer of rice and then the bitter-Gourd mixture and finally rice layer again.Cook on slow flame for 10mins.

• 
  
  When about to serve mix the layers lightly and serve with Curd-Raita

This goes to Yasmeen's event.