Tinfish Biryani

Tinfish Biryani is an South African dish

Ingredients

 * 2 x 400g cans Saldanha Middlecut OR Pilchards
 * 2 tbsp unsalted butter
 * 1 onion, chopped
 * 4 tomatoes, grated
 * 3 cinnamon sticks
 * 3 bay leaves
 * 3 tbsp mixed masala
 * 1 tbsp turmeric
 * 1 tbsp breyani mix
 * 5 tbsp sour tamarind paste OR 75g dates soaked in hot water then pureed with juice from one small lemon
 * ¼ bunch coriander
 * ¼ bunch mint
 * 1 tbsp crushed garlic & ginger paste
 * 2 cups rice
 * 1½ cup brown lentils
 * ½ cup water
 * ¼ cup oil
 * 4 hard-boiled eggs, cut into quarters

Directions

 * 1) Cook rice and lentils separately.
 * 2) Heat oil.
 * 3) Fry bay leaves, cinnamon and breyani mix for 3 minutes.
 * 4) Add chopped onion.
 * 5) Add unsalted butter once onion is golden brown.
 * 6) Add crushed garlic & ginger paste and mix well.
 * 7) Add mixed masala and tumeric and cook for 3 minutes, stirring gradually.
 * 8) Add grated tomatoes and water and allow to simmer.
 * 9) Stir in sour tamarind paste (or date option), making a thick gravy.
 * 10) Add drained middlecut or pilchards and allow to simmer for 5 minutes on low heat.
 * 11) Mix rice, lentils and fish mixture together.
 * 12) Gently mix through and serve topped with egg quarters, coriander and mint.