Sindhi shrimp biryani

This is one of the famous pakistani recipe, and usually is made using meat but i just replace it with jumbo shrimp. The recipe was tough to understand first but later on when i completed it i felt really good. My husband loved it as the recipe was really good.

Preparation time = 30-40 mins
Serves = 4-6
Calories = Approx 320 / Serving

INGREDIENTS-
For Masala-
1/2 Lb Jumbo Shrimp (Peeled & Deveined)
1 Cup Yogurt (Thick & Plain)
1 1/2 Cup Apricot (Dried or fresh)
2 Potato (Cubed)
1/4 Cup Unsalted butter
1 Onion (Chopped fine)
5-6 Hot peppers
2 Tomatoes (Cubed)
1/2 Cup Mint leaves
1/2 Cup Cilantro
1 Tbsp Biryani masala
1 Tsp Garam masala
1 Tsp Red chilli powder
1 Tbsp Ginger garlic paste
4 Saffron strands or food color (Optional)
Salt to taste (2 Tsp)
1/4 Tsp Fried Onions

For Rice-
3 Cups Basmati rice
2 Bay leaves
5-6 Cloves
4 Mace
4 Cardamom
2 Cinnamon sticks
2 Star anise
Salt to taste (1 Tsp)

PREPARATION-
1. Soak basmati rice atleast for 30 mins. Bring some water to boil. Add all the dry spices, half the mint leaves to a muslin cloth and tie. Drop this in to the boiling water and allow to boil. Once the aroma starts coming up add the rice and salt and cook till 70% done. Drain the rice and set aside. Throw away the spices.
2. Heat a heavy bottomed vessel and add butter to it. Add shrimp and saute till pink. Drain and set aside. Soak the saffron strands in some warm milk and set aside.
3. Add onions and saute till brown. Now stir in the potatoes, tomatoes, apricots and cook on high heat till tender. You can also use dried apricots, if so soak them in hot water and extract the pulp and add it.
4. Now add the red chillies, ginger garlic paste, biryani masala, garam masala and red chilli powder. Mix well.
5. Stir in the shrimp and mix well. Add the cilantro and mint leaves. Now add the cooked rice in a layer and sprinkle the saffron milk over the top. Also add fried onion. Cover and cook till the rice is done on a very low flame.

Sindhi Shrimp Biryani
Enjoy with raita.