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A disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya asked him,
"What did the companions of the cave mean when they spoke about the choicest of food? The Shaikh replied, "They wanted a food that they liked. According to some, that meant rice!" Mi'raj Buriyani
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Buriyani is always served at religious celebrations in Sri Lanka. This one was an inspiration of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen.
Total time: 2 hours
10 cups water
6 cups rice 1 tbsp. salt (for rice) 2 cups cooking oil (for frying) 3 cups potatoes, cut into ½" cubes ½ cup lima beans ¾ cup string beans, cut into ½" pieces ½ cup shelled peas 3 tbsp. cooking oil (for vegetables) 2 tbsp. finely chopped onion ¼ tsp. salt (for vegetables) 1 cup cabbage, cut into chunks 1 cup carrots, quartered lengthwise and cut into ¼" slices ½ cup cubed kohlrabi ¾ cup bell peppers, trimmed and cut into ½" squares 3 tbsp. ghee 1 tbsp. oil 1 tsp. finely chopped chili pepper ½ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. turmeric ¼ tsp. cumin seeds ¼ tsp. fennel seeds ¼ tsp. fenugreek seeds ¼ tsp. black mustard seeds 1 cup finely chopped onion 2 tbsp. finely chopped chili pepper 1 cup broccoli florets and ¼" stem slices ½ cup cauliflower florets ½ cup halved cashews 2 tsp. salt 3 tbsp. finely chopped garlic 2 tbsp. finely chopped ginger ½ cup tomato puree ¼ tsp. cardamom 1 tsp. cayenne ½ tsp. cinnamon A pinch of ground cloves 2 tsp. ground coriander ½ tsp. cumin 1 tbsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. ground ginger 2 tsp. onion powder ½ tsp. turmeric 2 tbsp. lemon juice 1 cup raisins Bring 10 cups of water to a boil. Add the rice and salt, return to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Heat the oil in a deep pot. Deep fry the potatoes a cup at a time, until they are golden brown, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Drain them, sprinkle with salt, put them on a baking sheet lined with paper towels, and place them in a warm oven while the rest of the dish is being prepared. Bring a 3-quart pot of water to a boil, add the lima beans, string beans and peas, and cook for 10 minutes or until done. Drain, put the vegetables in an oven-proof bowl, and place them in the oven with the potatoes. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large pot, add the onions and ¼ teaspoon salt, and sauté until the onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the cabbage, carrots, kohlrabi and peppers; sauté, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes, until they are cooked through. Using a slotted spoon, remove these vegetables to another oven-proof bowl in the oven. Reserve the juices. Using the same pot, heat ghee or oil, chili pepper, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon turmeric. When the oil is hot, add the seed spices. When they begin to pop, add 1 cup onions and the chopped chilies, and sauté until the onions become translucent. Add the broccoli, cauliflower, cashews, 2 teaspoons salt, garlic and ginger, and mix well. Combine the tomato puree with the powdered spices, then add enough reserved vegetable juices and water to make 3 cups liquid. Pour this into the pot and mix well. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the lima beans, string beans and peas, and stir well. Add the lemon juice and cook for another 2 minutes. Mix the sauce with the remaining vegetables, and add salt to taste. Let the sauce be a touch too salty, rather than too little, as it will be mixed together with the rice. Layer the rice, potatoes, raisins and curry sauce in a large serving dish and toss like a salad. from Serving the Guest: A Sufi Cookbook |