Vegetable Biryani

It has been very long time, since I cook biryani for the family. After fasting for Navarathri, just feel wanted to eat something special. Apart from that, I have another reason to publish this post. Few of my friends always asked me to post vegetable biryani. So kill two birds with one stone. I have tried few recipes before this for vegetable biryani. Finally I come out with my own recipe. There is various methods of doing biryani. Of all I prefer layering of rice and masala. And then cook in medium flame in stove top. 

Waiting for my son to sleep, Im able to post this especially to those specially requested this recipe. Enjoy!

Rice :

Basmathi Rice - 1 1/2 cup

Lemongrass - 2 bruised

Ginger - 1 inch chopped

Salt

Water 

Preparation Method:

Wash and soak the basmathi rice in water for 30 minutes. Then boil the water in a heavy bottom vessel. Add soaked rice, bruised lemongrass, ginger and salt. Let it boil to half cook. If you dont prefer lemongrass and ginger it shouldn't be any problem. They just give some flavor and aroma. Once the rice half cooked, drain the rice and keep aside.

Masala :

Spices for tempering :

1 bay leaf

2 tbsp Ghee

1 inch cinnamon 

3 cloves

1 star anise

3 cardamom

Ground Spice :

2 green chillies

1 tbsp grated coconut

handful mint leaves

handful coriander leaves

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp blackpepper 

Others : 

Onion - 1 sliced

Ginger -Garlic paste - 1 tbsp

Biryani masala - 1 tbsp

Chili powder - 1 tsp

Garam masla - 1 tsp

Plain yogurt - 1/4 cup

Mix vegetables - 1 cup (cauliflower, peas, carrot, potato)

Salt

Garnish:

1 - Onion sliced

1 tbsp - Cashew nuts

1 tbsp - mint leaves chopped

1 tbsp-  coriander leaves chopped

Preparation Method :

Heat ghee in a pan. Add spices for tempering. let the aroma fills your nose. Then add the sliced onions. Saute till transluscent. Add ginger garlic paste. Stir again for the raw smell goes. Now add the mix vegetables. Reduce your flame. Cover your pan. Let the vegetable cook for 5 minutes with covered. 

Remove your cover. Add in ground paste and chili powder. Continue to mix well. Add the plain yogurt. Mix well. Taste your saltiness by adding adequate amount of salt. Check whether your potato is cooked or not. Easy way to let the vegetable cooked fast, always chopped your veggies into small chunks. Now sprinkle garam masala and biryani masala. Mix to coat well. If the vegetable masala cooked. Turn off the flame. 

Garnish:

Fry the onion and cashews and keep aside.

Now its layering time:

First take any pot, either earthern ware or pressure cooker, atake 1 tsp of ghee and smear the pot. Add first layer of rice followed by the vet\getable masala. Sprinkle some garam masala and chopped mint and  coriander leaves. Add another layer of rice and gravy. Close lid tightly so that the aroma from earthern ware can penetrate into the food.  Cook in low flame for 15 minutes on stove top. let it stand for 5 minutes. Now its time to serve with garnish. In this recipe I did not use any food cocloring. its up tou if you wanted to. 

Serve with papadam, cucumer raita and appalam. Have a try!