Veg Biryani

Vegetable biryani is an aromatic rice dish made by cooking basmati rice with mix veggies, herbs & biryani spices. Making a vegetarian version of biryani becomes much simpler as the veggies need no marination. And of course is a treat for vegetarians.

Cuisine: Indian

Course: Main Course

Diet: Vegetarian

Prep time: 30 min

Cook time: 20

Servings: 4

INGREDIENTS

• Long grain basmati rice - 1.5 cups
• Oil - 3tsp
• Spices - Cloves, cardamom, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, jeera
• Green chillies, split into halves - 3 nos
• Chopped onions - 1
• Finely chopped tomatoes - 2
• Largely diced carrots - 1 cup
• Largely diced cauliflower - 1 cup
• Largely diced beans - 1 cup
• Largely diced potatoes - 1/2 cup
• Paneer cubes - 1/2 cup
• Ginger garlic paste - 1/2tbsp
• Coriander powder (Dhaniya powder) - 1/2tbsp
• Jeera powder - 1/2tbsp
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Red chili powder - 1 and 1/2tbsp
• Curd - 2tbsp
• Ghee - 1tbsp
• Garam masala - 1/2tbsp
• Mint leaves - for garnishing
• Kesar milk - 1tbsp (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS 

• Take a bowl, add basmati rice and 2 cups of water and soak it for about 30 mins

• (Start the below process after the rice has been soaked for 30 mins)

• (Also you will have to do 2 things simultaneously - Preparation of rice and the curry)

• Take a cooker, fill it with 3 cups of water and keep it on medium heat

• Take another cooker and add 2tsp of oil on medium heat. Add 1/2 tsp of jeera, 3 cloves, 2 cardamom,1 small piece of cinnamon stick & 1 bay leaf

• Once they start crackling, add the chopped onions and saute until onions are translucent(keep it in low flame)

• Meanwhile, add the following to the boiling water in the cooker: 2 cloves, 1 bay leaf, 1 small piece of cinnamon stick and 2 cardamom. Add 1/2 tsp of salt and 1tsp of oil. It gives a nice flavor to the Biryani

• Now take out the soaked rice from the bowl and add it to the flavored water in the cooker. Close the lid and leave it to cook

• Now to the other cooker(the one with the tadka) add the chopped green chillies and 1tsp of ginger garlic paste. Saute well until the raw smell of the paste is gone

• Add the tomatoes. Add 1/4 tsp of turmeric powder, 1 tsp of coriander powder, 1tsp of jeera powder and 1 and half tsp of red chilli powder. Mix it well

• Now add the chopped carrot, beans, cauliflower and potatoes

• Add 1/2 tsp of salt,  2tsp of curd and 1/4 cup of water. Mix it well. Close the lid and leave the curry to cook

• Meanwhile, drain the flavored boiled rice in a colander, add 2tsp of ghee, give it a mix and keep it aside

• Now take out half the qty of the curry from the cooker and transfer it into another bowl

• To this cooker, add 1/2 tsp of garam masala to the curry(1st layer) 

• Spread half the qty of rice on top of the curry. Spread it evenly. Garnish with some mint leaves. And kesar milk(2nd layer)

• Now add the remaining curry on top of this. Spread the curry evenly(3rd layer)

• And then add the remaining rice on top of this layer. Spread it evenly. Garnish with mint leaves and kesar milk

• Close the lid and let it cook for 4-5 mins

Traditional Veg Biryani is ready to be served! Best served with Raita :)