Shrimp and Spinah Biryani

 

                    A fragrantly spiced pilaf-style dish that doesn't take much more effort than ordering takeout, yet is much healthier as it is lower in fat. Serve with refreshing raita to complete the meal.

Serves 4

• 398 ml can chopped tomatoes
• 30 ml canola oil
• 1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
• 1 red chili pepper, deseeded and thinly sliced
• 15 gr fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
• 15 ml ground cumin
• 15 ml ground coriander 
• 5 ml ground tumeric
• 2 ml ground nutmeg
• 250 ml basmati rice, rinsed
• Pinch of sugar
• 1.5 liter baby spinach leaves, roughly torn
• 250 gr peeled raw shrimp, thawed if frozen

1. Drain the tomatoes in a sieve over a heatproof measuring cup, then set aside ; bring a kettle of water to a boil.
2. Heat the oil in a large flameproof casserole dish over a medium heat ; add the onion, chili and ginger and stir for 3 minutes.
3. Stir in the cumin, coriander, tumeric and nutmeg and continue stirring until the onion is softened.
4. Add the rice and drained tomatoes to the casserole dish and stir to mix ith the spices ; add enough boiling water to the reserved tomato juice to make up to 500 ml.
5. Stir this liquid into the rice with the sugar and pinch of salt, then bring to a boil.
6. Reduce the heat to low, cover tightly and leave the rice to cook without lifting the lid for 10-12 minutes until all the liquid has been absorbed, the rice grains are tender and tiny holes appear on the surface.
7. Stir in the spinach, as much as you can at a time, adding more as each addition wilts ; when all the spinach has been added, lay the shrimp on top, re-cover the casserole dish and turn down the heat to very low.
8. Cook for 2 minutes, then turn off the heat and leave to stand for 1 minute, without lifting the lid, by which time the spinach will have wilted further and the shrimp will have cooked through.
9. Gently fork together to combine the rice, spinach and shrimp ; serve immediately.

Each serving : 20 g protein, 11.5 g fat, 47 g carbohydrate, 5.5 g fibre, 260 Calories.

BON APPÉTIT