Crab Biryani or Nandu Biryani in the Instant Pot is a delicious and easy one pot recipe with the goodness of fresh crab and spices.Perfect for a weekend lunch or dinner.
Crab biryani is a lovely one pot meal. If you are a seafood lover this is definitely a to try. Perfect for the Thanksgiving meal table. It is unique and this will definitely surprise your friends and family. I made them in the Instant Pot, so you can keep them warm until the serving time.
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Crab Biryani in Pressure Cooker
We can cook the same recipes in the stovetop Pressure cooker too. For a pressure cooker version use 1.25 cups of liquid for every 1 cup of water. Add the water and close the pressure cooker, when the steams comes out vigorously put on the whistle. Cook in a high flame for 3 mins and switch off. Wait till the pressure subsides naturally and then open the pressure cooker. Nandu biryani is ready.
Ingredients
Crab - Use good quality cleaned crab for the biryani. Blue Crab is the most common crab variety we use for cooking. You may use any edible crab.
Whole Spices - We usually temper the biryani with the whole spices, as we fry them in oil or Ghee the spices turn fragrant.
Onion, Tomato, ginger, and garlic paste - These are the basics we add thinly sliced onions and finely chopped tomato in the biryani. We can never cook biryani without ginger garlic paste.
Spice Powders - Basic spice powders like chili powder, Garam Masala Turmeric powder, and salt go into the biryani.
Mint, cilantro, and Green Chilli - Again Mint and Cilantro bring in lots of flavors to the biryani. You can also blend them to a paste and add them to the biryani.
Coconut Milk - This gives a very lovely taste to the biryani and I highly recommend using it. You can adjust the amount of coconut milk added to the biryani. Make sure the total liquid quantity is as given in the recipe card. Increase or decrease the coconut Milk and compensate the rest with Water.
Curd or Yogurt, Lemon - Both Curd and Lemon balance the flavors in the biryani and they are mandatory addition.
FAQ's
Which variety of crab is suitable for biryani?
Blue crab is the most common variety and it is widely used in cooking.
How to clean crab?
I usually buy cleaned crab. They break the legs and body as they clean. Wash well and we can use it directly for the biryani.
How to Prepare Crab Biryani
1.Turn on the Instant Pot in saute mode. Wait till it shows on and then add in 3 tbsp of Coconut Oil or Ghee. Once it's hot add in 1 tsp Fennel Seeds, 1 Bay leaves, 1-inch cinnamon sticks, 2 cloves,3 cardamom, and 6 Cashew nuts, Star Anise 1, saute and they will turn fragrant.
2. Now add in the sliced Onions. I am using 1 cup of sliced Onions. Saute till it's soft and pink. Next, add 3 or 2 green chilies.
3. And then add ⅓ cup of Loosley packed Mint leaves and ⅓ cup of finely chopped Cilantro. Saute till they shrink
4. Add 2 finely chopped big tomatoes which are approximately 1 cup. Cook till they turn soft.
5. Now add in 1.5 tbsp of ginger garlic paste. Cook till the raw smell leaves
6. Now add in the spice powders. I am using 1.5 tbsp of Red Chilli powder, 1 tsp of Garam Masala, ¼ tsp of Turmeric powder, and the needed Salt.
7. Combine everything so that the spice powders blend. Next, add in the cleaned crab.
8. Combine everything.
9. Wash the Basmati Rice 3 or 4 times and then keep it soaked in water. Let the basmati rice soak for at least 30 mins. Drain the water and add the basmati rice to the Instant Pot now.
10. Now add in the measured coconut Milk and water. The ratio is for 1 cup rice add 1.5 cups of Liquid. So for 2 cups of Rice add 3 cups of Liquid. I am adding 2 cups of coconut milk and 1 cup of water. Combine well. Also, add in ¼ cup of Thich Curd or Yogurt and 1 tbsp of Lemon Juice. Combine everything and check for salt and spice and add if anything is less.
Cook the biryani
11. Now Close the Instant pot and turn the pressure value in sealing position. Press the pressure cook option and set 5 mins in high pressure
12. After 5 mins and do a quick release and open the Instant pot. Fluff the Rice once gently and turn off the Instant Pot. Close the Instant pot and leave it undisturbed for 30 mins. After 30 mins open the IP. Instant Pot Crab Biryani is now ready. Fluff the rice gently and it is now ready to enjoy.
Serving Suggestions
The best pair for biryani is Raita and boiled egg always. You can also serve it with biryani brinjal gotsu, papad and pickle too.
Storage Options
Briyani tastes the best only when served hot. Storing and reheating lose their charm and freshness. So I do not recommend storing, biryani for the best taste. However, you may store up to 2 days and then reheat on stovetop or microwave and serve the biryani.
If you are storing it, store it in a clean storage box.
More Biryani Recipes Instant Pot:
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📖 Recipe
Crab Biryani | Nandu Biryani
Standard 1 cup measures 240 ml
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Coconut Oil
- 1 tsp Fennel Seeds
- 1 Bay Leaf
- 2 Clove
- 3 Cardamom
- 6 Cashew Nuts
- 1 Star Anise
- 1 inch Cinnamon Stick
- 3 Green Chilli
- 1 cup Onion sliced
- ⅓ cup Mint Leaves
- ⅓ cup Coriander Leaves
- 1.5 tbsp Ginger garlic paste
- 1 cup Tomato chopped
- 1 kg Crab
- 1.5 tbsp Red Chilli Powder
- 1 tsp Garam Masala
- ¼ tsp Turmeric Powder
- Salt as needed
- 2 cups Basmathi Rice
- 2 cups Coconut Milk
- 1 cup Water
- ¼ cup Yogurt or Thick Curd
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
Instructions
- Turn on the Instant Pot in saute mode. Wait till it shows on and then add in 3 tbsp of Coconut Oil or Ghee. Once it's hot add in 1 tsp Fennel Seeds, 1 Bay leaves, 1-inch cinnamon sticks, 2 cloves,3 cardamom, and 6 Cashew nuts, Star Anise 1, saute and they will turn fragrant.
- Now add in the sliced Onions. I am using 1 cup of sliced Onions. Saute till it's soft and pink. Next, add 3 or 2 green chilies.
- And then add ⅓ cup of Loosley packed Mint leaves and ⅓ cup of finely chopped Cilantro. Saute till they shrink
- Add 2 finely chopped big tomatoes which are approximately 1 cup. Cook till they turn soft.
- Now add in 1.5 tbsp of ginger garlic paste. Cook till the raw smell leaves
- Now add in the spice powders. I am using 1.5 tbsp of Red Chilli powder, 1 tsp of Garam Masala, ¼ tsp of Turmeric powder, and the needed Salt.
- Combine everything so that the spice powders blend. Next, add in the cleaned crab.
- Combine everything.
- Wash the Basmati Rice 3 or 4 times and then keep it soaked in water. Let the basmati rice soak for at least 30 mins. Drain the water and add the basmati rice to the Instant Pot now.
- Now add in the measured coconut Milk and water. The ratio is for 1 cup rice add 1.5 cups of Liquid. So for 2 cups of Rice add 3 cups of Liquid. I am adding 2 cups of coconut milk and 1 cup of water. Combine well. Also, add in ¼ cup of Thich Curd or Yogurt and 1 tbsp of Lemon Juice. Combine everything and check for salt and spice and add if anything is less.
- Now Close the Instant pot and turn the pressure value in sealing position. Press the pressure cook option and set 5 mins in high pressure
- After 5 mins and do a quick release and open the Instant pot. Fluff the Rice once gently and turn off the Instant Pot. Close the Instant pot and leave it undisturbed for 30 mins. After 30 mins open the IP. Instant Pot Crab Biryani is now ready. Fluff the rice gently and it is now ready to enjoy.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist , the nutrition value provided here is an estimate.It will vary based on the quantity and brands of the products used.
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