Qubooli(Lentil Biryani) With Kaddo Dalcha(Pumpkin Lentil Soup)




Originally a Nawabi\Mughalai delicacy ,Qubooli is popular in Hyderabadi cuisine. I tasted it at my friends ,I don't remember Ammi making it(Sorry Ammi:) ). I was glad when i found the recipe at Sia's Monsoon Spice(featuring this month for Zu's Tried and Tasted) . The procedure is more like preparing a Biryani,only in this the layering ingredient is mainly Chana(Split Bengal Gram) lentil infused with flavors of yogurt and spices. Qubooli is spicy and flavorful in every bite, tastes even better with some spicy lentil soup like Kaddoo Dalcha or a cooling yogurt chutney(raita) .

Qubooli(Lentil Biryani)

Ingredients
3cups Basmati rice
1/2 Cup Chana Dal(Split Bengal Gram Lentil)
1/2 cup fat-free Yogurt/Dahi
1 teaspoon Ginger garlic paste
1 teaspoon Ground spices cloves, cinnamon ,coriander seeds and cumin seeds(aka Garam Masala)
Few Whole Spices like Cloves,Cumin seeds,Cinnamon sticks and cardamom
3/4 cup Chopped cilantro and mint
1 medium Onion Thinly Sliced
1/2 a lime, juiced
2 green chillies
3/4 teaspoon red chilly powder
3/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1\2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Method
Cook Lentils
Wash and soak lentil for about 15 minutes,
Heat Olive in a Saucepan with lid or a pressure cooker.Fry the thinly sliced onions until lightly golden brown. Remove the fried onions and set aside.Add the cumin seeds ,whole Spices and saute for a minute .Stir in the soaked lentils ,yogurt and other spices. Cover and Cook until lentils are tender,about 35 minutes in a saucepan and 12 minutes in a pressure cooker.
Partially Cook Rice
Meanwhile wash and soak rice for 15minutes. Boil about 6 cups of water in another large Saucepan with lid and add salt and whole cloves. Drain the water from rice and add to the boiling water. Cook until its 80% done.
Make Layers and Cook for Infusing flavors
Gather all the ingredients(Chopped Mint\Cilantro,Lime Juice ,Cooked Lentil mixture and crispy fried onions) to make the layers promptly.Drain the rice in a strainer. Real quick before the rice cools. Keep the same saucepan used to boil rice back on heat. Add a table spoon of Oil. Spread half the rice as the first layer in the saucepan.
Spread the cooked lentil,Sprinkle the lime juice,crispy fried onions and chopped greens around the first rice layer.Lastly layer the rest half of rice .

Sprinkle with onions on top and cover. Cover tightly and cook for another 10 minutes until you see steam escaping from the lid. Wait another 10 minutes before removing the lid.
Mix Layers

Before serving properly mix all the layers and serve with cooling yogurt chutney or Kaddoo Dalcha(Recipe follows)


Kaddoo Dalcha(Pumpkin Lentil Soup)
"Kaddoo" is Indian green pumpkin ,also known as bottle gourd. "Kaddo dalcha" is prepared by making the spicy pumpkin curry and mixing with cooked lentils. Tastes perfect with any flavorful rice or plain rice.


Ingredients
1/2 cup Toor Dal(Yellow Split lentil)
1/2 a Medium sized Green Pumpkin(Kaddoo),Peeled,De seeded and cut in about 2 inch pieces
1 medium Plum Tomato chopped
1/2 onion or 2 shallots,sliced
1/2 teaspoon ginger and garlic paste
1/2 teaspoon Turmeric
1/2 teaspoon Red chilly powder
1/2 teaspoon of Cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon of coriander powder
1 tablespoon of tamarind paste in 11/2 cups of water
1 sprig of Curry leaves
1 Tablespoon of Olive oil
1/2 teaspoon Cumin seeds
1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon Salt

Method
Cook the Lentils
Wash and Soak lentil for 10minutes.
Use a pressure cooker(it saves lot of time) to cook the lentils.Add a cup of water and soaked lentils along with salt and turmeric. Let cook on medium flame for about 10minutes. Now mash the cooked lentil and set aside.
Cook the Pumpkin curry and mix in the mashed Lentils
Heat Olive oil in a saucepan on medium high .saute onions for a minute along with cumin seeds, mustard seeds and curry leaves. Add ginger and garlic paste,saute for another minute before adding rest of the spices ,cut pumpkin ,tomatoes and tamarind juice. Cover and simmer until pumpkins are tender about 15 minutes,then stir in the cooked mashed lentils. Simmer for another 5 minutes and serve warm with Rice.

Quboli with Kaddoo Dalcha are my entry for "My legume love affair" ,a monthly event started by Susan of Well-seasoned Cook.

Comments

maimoona said…
khubooli and dalcha is a great combination.Your recipe for khubooli looks nice and different from the way I make.I add curd,cumin and coriander powder in Khubooli.
Yasmeen said…
Thanks Maimoona, I used yogurt too in the recipe, but missed writing it in the in the ingredient list, just updated the list.
Anjum said…
Asak yasmeen Qubooli is one of my favorites,i usually make it for weekends..with dalcha the combination looks great!!!
PG CakeCraft said…
hi yasmeen, ur briyani looks so tasty & yummy. ur dalcha also looks yummy. briyani & dalcha, always a great combo. here's wishing u a happy & blessed Eid.
Unknown said…
Hi.. Nice entry/... looks delicious & awesome..thxs for sharing..
Dori said…
Looks delicious and so healthy... I'm hungry now :)
Sameera Ansari said…
Goodness!That looks so delicious.And the best part is it's veg :)

Thanks for sharing dear,have a nice weekend!
Anonymous said…
Well, I'm just sitting down to breakfast here, and am now dreaming of my dinner! Yasmeen, this looks just wonderful.

Thank you so much for your entry. The round-up will be posted on the 30th of the month.
Madhavi said…
WOW this biryani looks awesome, mouth-drooling, yummmmmm. Very nice recipe and photos r really tempting!!!
syeda said…
hreat looking qubooli yasmeen!

thanx for the kaddu ka daalcha recipe, I used to have it before when mummy used to make it with bagaara khaan and sem ki phalli, I never cared to learn its recipe...thanx
Cynthia said…
Love everything. I find the soup particularly interesting.
Shreya said…
hi everything looks awesome and healthy. I make bottle gourd soup without the lentils and have posted it long ago.
Anonymous said…
That would be one of my most conforting meals. Looks heavenly!
anudivya said…
That is one tempting biryani, you maybe interested in The Pumpkin event by Madhuram...
Susan said…
Two lentil recipes? I would feel very spoiled if this lovely meal was put before me.
Anonymous said…
Thanks for sharing. well i cooked some sort of Qubooli Palao not biryani .. but i will try yours i had my qubooli with some Talaajee

Thanks for sharing :)
*happy blogging*
Unknown said…
Asak.adding minced meat makes the dish more yummy
Unknown said…
Asak adding minced meat brings the original nawabi style making the qubooli more yummy
Unknown said…
Asak.adding minced meat makes the dish more yummy
Anonymous said…
Dear Yasmeen,
I think olive pomace oil is better for cooking purpose rather than virgin oil, as the latter is purposed for raw use.

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