Charminar : The Briyani HotSpot

Charminar and Briyani are synonyms for Briyani lovers. I have heard a lot about this place from fellow CFGians. Was wanting to check the place out for a very long time, but had my own doubts as it being a predominantly non vegetarian place. When the call for review came my way, I actually double checked if vegetarians would have any options. Surprisingly, Charminar offers a wide variety of vegetarian food. On the whole the experience was good, with a little glitches that usually happens in any restaurants. 

We started off the dinner with soups and starters. Again a lot being said of their Manchow Soup, I opted for it. It was spicy and had crunchy noodles on. This would be my personal preference when I visit them the next time. You do get a non vegetarian version of this soup, which is Chicken Manchow soup. It has shredded chicken along with vegetables.

Veg  Manchow Soup and Sweet Corn Soup

We had close to 4 starters. Each one with a varied taste and flavor. 

Paneer Tikka & Achari Aloo Tikka

Both appear similar but tastes differently. I have not seen Aloo being presented like paneer before. Paneer tikka was soft and succulent with the flavors infused very well. Aloo Tikka was sour and had just the right amount of spices. The onion salad along with the tikka was very tasty.

Majestic Baby Corn

This dish was way to sour for my tongue. Some how it did not suit my palettes  I had a piece and then passed on to the next dish. But this was a hit dish, in the recent Star Vijay Awards function as told by Charminar s PR Vidya. They had made a slight variation of using Prawns to Baby Corn 

Veg Shangrila 

Vegetarian Shangrila is the meatless version of sheek kebab  Its mashed vegetables made on tandoor using skewers. Tasted like cutlets in a different form and had a predominant flavor of cinnamon. It tasted good with the mint chutney.

Lacha Paratha , Charminar Veg Subzi and Yellow Dal

When you visit Charminar, do not ever forget to order the Yellow Dal. It was just superb. Perfect for Lacha paratha and to eat it just like that. The texture, color and taste were all just perfect. 

One of their signature dishes, Charminar Vegetable Subzi was again a standout dish in the showcase. It was spicy and had a lot of veggies (psst: I always like a lot of veggies in my food)

Vegetable Briyani and Paneer Briyani

Showstopper for the whole dinner, Briyani : Spicy, flavorful and cooked to the perfect consistency. I love their Briyani, be it vegetable or paneer.

Double Kaa Meeta 

Dessert was Double Kaa Meeta, bread cooked with Khoya , loaded with cashews, raisins and cherries and drizzled with generous portions of ghee. Perfect dessert to end with. 

My ratings

Service: 8/10

Rates: 8/10

Taste: 8/10

Ambience: 6/10

Will I go back? Definitely yes. Not all restaurants that concentrate on Non vegetarian food gives so many options for Vegetarians. This is the USP of Charminar. 

Charminar is located at 

Lloyds Rd, Padupet, 

Chennai, TN 600086

Phone:044 2811 1007

Chole Briyani / Channa Briyani

We are on the fourth day of Party food and today its gonna be a main course dish. I have had this dish way back in 2008 I am not sure. Srivalli had got it for the first ever food bloggers meet. It was a wonderful wonderful meet I should say when I got to meet few fellow bloggers and got to know the faces behind the blogs. That was the start , from then on my friends on the blogging side has always been growing and I simply love it. 

I have tried to recreate Valli s Channa Pulao at home several times, but hers is always the best. This is my version of the dish. I loved the dish, so did my family and colleagues

Ingredients

Chole - 2 cups soaked overnight 
Basmati rice - 3 cups
Red chili powder - 2 tbsp
Coriander Powder - 1 tbsp
Fresh Coriander Leaves - 1 cup
Mint Leaves - 1 cup
Sliced Onion - 1 1 /2 cup
Sliced Tomato - 1 cup
Spices - cloves, bay leaf, cardamom and cinnamon
Ginger Garlic Paste 1 tsp
Salt - to taste
Butter - as required

      

Method

Soak the Channa overnight 

Rinse it well and set aside

Clean and soak basmati rice in 4.5 cups of water

In a pressure pan / cooker, heat a little butter

Add the spices to it and saute for 15 secs

To this add the sliced onions followed by Coriander and Mint leaves.

Saute this well.

(I love the aroma at this stage, its heavenly)

Add tomato, ginger garlic paste, red chili powder, coriander powder and salt at this stage

Saute for 2 minutes

Add the soaked Channa and Basmati rice along with the water in which it was soaked

Adjust salt and close the pressure pan / cooker

Cook for two whistles in high flame and then one whistle in low flame

Steaming Channa Briyani is ready for you

Hungry ? Come over and grab a plate.

Check what my fellow bloggers are cooking for Day 1 Week 1 

Vegetable Briyani

It was a hot sunny day, but as it was nearing nightfall.. Rain gods blessed Chennai with a heavy shower of rains and I got completely drenched in those blessings. When I reached home, dad wanted to have something hot and spicy that was best suited for the weather. Having attended a Briyani Workshop where I happened to get hands on experience of making Briyani, I ventured into the kitchen to make this lovely tasty Briyani. I was amazed by my confidence and the taste of this dish. Dad loved it to the core.

I made raitha for the side. I have been reading about this Vegetable Briyani in many blogs. The post I read in Veena 's Blog was very impressive, the whole platter that she had made. With raitha, salad and curd rice. I re creating that vegetable Briyani for Day 3 of this blogging marathon session

Ingredients:

Basmati rice - 3 cups ( washed and soaked for 15 mins )

Veggies - beans , carrot , green peas , cauliflower - 3 cups

Onion - 2 cups 

Coriander and Mint Leaves - 1 cup

Tomato - 2 cups

Red Chili powder - 2 tbsp

Salt - to taste

Ghee - 2 tbsp

Oil - 2 tbsp

Spices - clove, bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom.

Method:

In a presure pan heat some ghee and oil together 

Add the spices and saute for a minute's time

Add the onions and coriander mint leaves. Saute well till a wonderful aroma comes out.

I love this flavor of coriander, mint and onion.

Follow it by the cut veggies and spice powders

Saute for 5 minutes 

Measure 4 1/2 cups of water (Basmati rice 1 cup = 1 1/2 water )

Add water and the soaked basmati rice to the veggie mixture

Adjust salt and pressure cook for two whistles in high and one whistle in low flame

Remove from heat and wait till the pressure releases

Take the vessel from the cooker and fluff the rice up

Serve hot with onion raitha and potato chips or Appalam

Check what my fellow bloggers are cooking for today

Briyani Cook Out

Briyani, biriani, beryani or beriani is a set of rice-based foods made with spices, rice (usually basmati) and meat, fish, eggs or vegetables. The name is derived from the Persian word beryā(n) (بریان) which means "fried" or "roasted".

The cooking method of Biryani originated in Iran (Persia) and it was brought to the Indian subcontinent by Iranian travelers and merchants. In India, the recipe of biryani developed to its current form. Local variants of this dish are popular not only in the Subcontinent but also in Southeast Asia, Arabia, and within various Asian expatriate communities in the West.

Have you ever wondered how to cook this wonderful rice, and more than how about learning it from a person who has more than 15years of experience in cooking such Briyani with an amazing taste. Mrs Rajab is a traditional cook who hails from Tirunelveli and specializes in Briyani making. And what is more it is gonna be a hands on experience, right from cutting vegetables and meat till the finished product.

Do join for the Briyani cook out happening on 23rd June, 11 am at Lakshmi Farms ( It is 3rd Farm House on the RIGHT HAND SIDE after the ECR Toll Gate from Thiruvanmyur towards Mahaballipuram)

So you wanna know what is on the menu for 

Veg Platter:

• Veg Briyani
• Gobi 65
• Onion Raitha
• Brinjal Thokku
• Bread Halwa
• Flavored Sweet Rice

Veg Platter

Non Veg Platter:

• Chicken Briyani
• Mutton Briyani
• Chicken 65
• Onion Raitha
• Brinjal Thokku
• Bread Halwa
• Flavored Sweet Rice

Non Veg Platter

So what are you waiting for .. go ahead and register yourself.. Lets cook, eat and enjoy the Briyani

Image courtesy: Google