18 Mar 2014

Vegetable Biryani Recipe

This is one of the simplest biryani to make. It is also a very flavorful dish. It can be made as a one pot meal and we make this often in our home since it's awesome to pack for lunch boxes. It is so easy to make if you have all the vegetables and onions cut, then it takes about 10 minutes to put it together.




You can add any vegetables you want. I have used potatoes, beans, fresh peas and carrots.

Ingredients
  • Basmati Rice - 2 cups
  • Onions - 2 medium\
  • Tomatoes - 3 medium
  • Potatoes - 1 large
  • Carrots - 3
  • Beans - 5 to 6
  • Peas - 1/2 cup
  • Biryani masala - 2 tsp
  • Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
  • Green chillies - 4
  • Coconut milk - 1/2 cup
  • Thick Curd - 1 cup
  • Coriander leaves - 2 to 3 tbsp chopped
  • Mint leaves - handful (I did not have since I did not have at hand)
  • Water - 3.5 cups
  • Salt - to taste
To Temper
  • Cinnamon - 1 inch stick
  • Cloves - 4
  • Bay leaf - 1
  • Star anise - 1
  • Oil - 3 tbsp


Method
1. Preparation - Slice the onion and blend the tomatoes to a puree. Chop all the vegetables to desired size. Wash and soak the basmati rice for 20 mins. Extract half a cup of coconut milk.
2. In a pressure cooker/pan, add oil and add the cinnamon, cloves, bay leaf and star anise. Wait for it to sizzle.



3. Add the onions, green chillies. Saute for a few minutes until the onions turn color.
4. Once the onions turn translucent, add the tomato paste. Saute for a couple of more minutes. 



5. Add the ginger garlic. Saute till the raw smell of ginger leaves.
6. Add the vegetables. Mix well.
7. Add the biryani masala and salt. Mix well and allow it to cook for sometime.



8. Add the coconut milk and curd. Mix well.
9. Add some chopped coriander leaves. If you prefer to cook the rice in the pressure cooker itself, add the drained basmati rice and the required water (3.5 cups) and salt for the rice and close the lid.



10. Pressure cook for 3 whistles, simmer after the first whistle.
11. We always use an electric rice cooker. If following this method, then, add 1 cup of water and close the pressure cooker without adding the rice and leave for 2 whistles. Simmer after 1 whistle. This is to allow the vegetables to cook.



12. Open the lid once the pressure releases by itself and transfer contents to the electric cooker. Add the basmati rice and salt and the remaining 2.5 cups of water and cook until done.



13. Once done, fluff it up with a fork, gently, so that the rice doesn't break.






Notes
1. If you do not have ginger garlic paste, grind 1 inch piece of ginger and 5-6 cloves and use.
You can add the ginger garlic paste before adding the tomatoes but it may stick to you pan. If it does stick, add a bit more oil.
3. Soak the rice for atleast 15-20 mins.
4. I have used 1:2 ratio (rice : water). This might change for different brands of rice. Keep that in mind while adding water.
5. Use thick curd otherwise that will also constitute as 'water' and make your biryani mushy.
6. I have used store bought biryani masala.
7. Do add more masalas if you wish. I added less so my daughter can have too. She hates spicy food!!

We had this with brinjal curry and raita.


Until next time,
 

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18 comments:

  1. Yummy veg biryani so tasty and inviting

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  2. Yummy veg biryani dear ; this is making me hungry.. like the step by step pictures dear plus you can see a thankful post for you and my further nominations..
    WordPress Family Award;
    Bless ya have a good day dear love Monu Teena

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  3. awesome vegetable biriyani dear...

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  4. yummy n tasty it looks.. pass me dear...

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  5. Great looking veg biriyani,every one's favorite

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  6. Very tasty and yummy biryani :)

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  7. Looks so inviting.. Yummy biryani.

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  8. My fav...... Looks delicious!!

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  9. So yummy veggie biriyani.......n love ur way of presentation :)

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  10. thats an very inviting and deliicous veg biryani :) make me hungry dear !!

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  11. Delicious and tempting veg biryani, very nicely made...

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  12. so tasty biryani... :) love that green apple shaped bowl too :)

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  13. Great way to make everyone eat all the healthy veggies :)

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  14. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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