An Indian mixed rice dish, perfect for entertaining.
Heat the oil and ghee in a large, heavy bottomed saucepan which has a lid. Add the whole spices and cook for 30 seconds or until aromatic. Add the onions and ½ tsp. salt and cook until soft, stirring occasionally, then turn the heat up and cook until golden. Meanwhile, drain the rice and add it into the golden onions. Stir well over a high heat to dry off any excess water and coat the rice in the oil for about 2-3 minutes. Add your water to the pan, taste and season well. The water should taste a little salty or the rice will be a bit flavourless. Bring to a boil then cover and turn the heat right down. Cook undisturbed for 7-8 minutes then test a grain, if it is done, take off the heat and set aside for 10 minutes, if not, leave to cook another minute or so. Once steamed, spoon onto some open plates to prevent overcooking. You can use this pot for the final assembly.
Blend together the tomatoes and yoghurt or chop the tomates and whisk the yoghurt.
Heat the oil in a medium-large sized saucepan. Add the onion with a good pinch of salt and cook until really soft then turn the heat up and cook until properly golden.
Add the ginger and garlic and cook gently for 30-40 seconds or until the garlic is now golden and smells cooked. Add the powdered spices and more seasoning with a splash of water and cook until the water has evaporated.
Add the tomato, yoghurt mix and cook, over a moderate to high flame, stirring constantly until the mixture comes to a boil and then reduces to a paste. This stops the yoghurt from splitting. Now turn the heat down a little and cook until this paste darkens. Add the chickpeas and a good splash of water and bring back to the boil, taste, and adjust seasoning. Simmer for 4-5 minutes. Add the mint and coriander and take off the heat. There should be some liquid in bottom of the pan.
Heat the milk and add the saffron, soak for 15 minutes.
When you are ready to eat, break up little cubes the butter into cubes and place half on the bottom of your pan. If your pan is quite wide, you can make this in in three layers if it is narrowish then maybe do 5 (i.e. rice, chickpea, rice, chickpea, rice). So, cover with half/third of the rice, drizzle with half/third of the saffron water. Layer whole or half the chickpea masala and top with the rice, saffron etc and keep going until all the layers are done. Top with the saffron drizzle, raisins and cashews. Cover with a tight fitting lid and place on a low heat for 20 minutes or until it is steaming. You can leave this, off the heat, for 20 minutes now and it will stay hot.
Spoon onto a platter and scatter crispy onions and coriander for garnish and serve with a raita.
This looks like a really long recipe and a biryani is definitely involved which is what makes it special. Having said that, I had some leftover pilaf rice and whipped up the chickpea filling in just 20m (I did cook only half the quantity). I then layered it within 5 minutes (I didn't use the crispy onion topping). I then came home in the evening put it on the fire for 20m and dinner was ready.