Need help identifying 2 ingredients in homemade chicken biryani
I am very fortunate to work in an office where I am one of about 3 caucasians for around 100 people originating from Asia. Yesterday, we had a pot luck, and one of the dishes was a fantastic chicken biryani. I got to bring home some leftovers! However, there are some ingredients I am trying to identify. Here is a picture of the dish (sorry, it's been cooled and reheated by nature of being leftovers):
Now, as one would expect from real Indian food, it was fantastically spicy. Star anise, cardamom, and curry leaves. But there were other things that we can't quite identify.
There was something that seemed like a "glob," I don't know how else to describe it. It was small, about pea-sized. But it was bright pink in color, and had the awesome visual effect of giving sections of the rice a gorgeous magenta-pink color. It also had a light savory flavor.
Next, we have this ingredient:
It had a VERY strong, peppery anise flavor, very much like cardamom but significantly stronger. It was about an inch long, almost like a walnut, but a bit smaller. Inside, there were several small pellets. Here is a picture:
If anyone can let me know what the pink "glob" was that gave the brilliant color, and what the pod was that gave such a great taste, I'd really appreciate it!
Best Answer
That looks like "Black Cardamom". You can probably find it in an asian grocery. I'm not sure what the pink thing was.
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What is the secret ingredient for biryani?
Salt. Salt is most important taste enhancer in any food. If your rice lacks in salt, biryani will lack completely in flavor. To know whether the salt is enough in water for boiling rice, taste the water, it should have a soupy salt level.What is the most important ingredient in biryani?
10 Tips to Make the Best Biryani \u2013 Secret Tips RevealedWhat is the main ingredient in any form of the dish biryani?
BiryaniBiryani from Lahore, PakistanAlternative namesBiriyani, Biriani, Beriani, Briyani, Breyani, Briani, Birani, Buriyani, Bariania, BerianiServing temperatureHotMain ingredientsRice Spices MeatIngredients generally usedMutton Chicken Beef Eggs Nuts Dried fruits Vegetables Potatoes4 more rowsWhat are the spices used in biryani?
Ingredients- 2 teaspoons ground cumin.
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander.
- 2 teaspoons ground turmeric.
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger.
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper.
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg.
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom.
SIMPLE CHICKEN BIRYANI FOR BEGINNERS | CHICKEN BIRYANI RECIPE FOR BACHELORS
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Answer 2
I am unable to comment, hence trying to put my comments here. The color is supposed to be a natural one, (Orange, and NOT pink) but these days people are in a hurry and are pouring food color which is not healthy or doesn't add good flavor. Traditionally the color comes by soaking saffron flowers in medium hot water for a few hours, and pouring it over the rice when its cooked. This, apart from giving a great Orangish color gives brings the saffron flavor.
Yes, its black cardamom. Biriyani gets its flavor from spices. Look at the video here for a traditional Biriyani.
Answer 3
That is definitely Black Cardamom as Steve said and the pink color comes for sure from the food dye what they used to color certain parts of the Biriyani. May be this one got nicely settled in that part of the rice where there was the food color (dye) and attained its texture.
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