Hyderabadi Shrimp Biryani

Preparation

1. Wash and soak the basmati rice for 20 minutes.
2. In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water to boil. Add the enclosed whole spices along with the soaked and drained basmati rice.
3. Cook the rice until it floats to the top, about 99% cooked. Drain and keep ready.
4. In another pot, add 1 tablespoon of oil. Fry the shrimp in the oil until they turn orange in color.
5. Add the enclosed biryani paste and 2/3 cup of water to the shrimp. Let simmer together for 5 minutes.
6. Reserve half of the shrimp gravy and begin layering the biryani.
7. In a cooking pot, add half of the cooked basmati rice.
8. Top with the reserved shrimp gravy and 1 tablespoon of chopped green herbs.
9. Add the remaining cooked basmati rice to cover all the shrimp.
10. Add fried onions and the remaining chopped green herbs on top.
11. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for 5 minutes on low heat.
12. Let the shrimp biryani rest for 10 minutes, then fluff with a soft spatula and serve.