Vegetable Biriyani

 

 

I have made this vegetable biriyani several times and my family and I have enjoyed it every single time that I have prepared it. So, for this year's Diwali celebration, I decided to make this Vegetable biriyani  and remembered to take some pictures so that I could share it with all of you.

Although the basic recipe is adapted from VahReVah, I have made a few changes.

INGREDIENTS:

Basmati rice - 4 cups

Cauliflower florets - 1 cup

Carrots -2

Frozen green peas - 1/2 cup

Potatoes - 2 medium sized

Beans - 1/2 cup

Red Onion - 1 medium

Green chillies - 2 or 3

Fresh coriander leaves - 1 bunch chopped

Fresh mint leaves - 1/2 bunch chopped

Fresh ginger and garlic paste - 1 tablespoon

Slivered almonds - 2 tablespoons

Cashew nuts - 2 tablespoons

Golden raisins - 2 tablespoons

Few slices of bread for croutons

Plain Yogurt  - 1 cup

Ghee - 1-2 tablespoons

Oil

Salt

A pinch of Saffron thread soaked in lukewarm milk.

Spice powders:

Turmeric - 1-2 tsp

Cayenne - 1-2 tsp

Fennel  - 1/2 tsp

Coriander - 1-2 tsp

Garam masala powder - 1-2 tsp

Whole garam masala : 1 cinnamon stick, 4 whole cardamoms, 4 cloves, 2 bay leaves, 2 star anise.

PREPARATION:

• Wash and soak the rice for at least 30 minutes.
• Get all the veggies ready by cutting them into big bite size pieces.
• In a big saute pan, add the ghee, oil , the whole garam masalas ,veggies, and the ginger and garlic paste
• When the veggies are half cooked, lower the heat and add some chopped coriander and mint leaves, slit green chillies, 1/2 cup of curd, and the spice powders (turmeric, cayenne, coriander and fennel).
• While the veggies continue to cook, drain the soaked rice and cook it with 6 cups of water in the rice cooker. Add 1tsp of ghee, 1tsp of garam masala powder and some salt to the rice cooker.
• Meanwhile, in a different pan, heat some ghee and roast the almonds, cashews, raisins and the bread pieces one at a time. Add some more ghee to the pan and fry the thinly sliced onions until golden brown. Keep these aside.
• Check and see if the veggie masala is done. Now transfer half the masala to a different platter. With the fire on low, add the remaining yogurt to the masala in the pan, add some more coriander and mint leaves and some nuts.

LAYERING:

 

•  Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
• In a big oven proof dish, layer the bottom part with the masala left in the saute pan.
• Top it off with the cooked rice, some nuts and raisins and some chopped coriander and mint leaves.
• Add the remaining masala on the top and repeat the process and end it with more nuts, raisins, fried onions, croutons and sprinkle the saffron milk on the top. 
• Cover the dish well with aluminium foil and bake for 15 minutes. Leave it in the oven for another 10-15minutes after it is switched off.
• Transfer to a serving dish when ready to eat. It is best served with Raita and pickle.