Vegetable Biriyani - Made Easy

This is spicy, tasty and remotely nutritious, due to all the
vegetables  that go in it. This dish is usually served on special
occasions.The usual accompaniments to biriyani are raita,
which is a curd based sauce and saalan, a spicy curry.

So then, lets start cooking...

Step 1:  Cut vegetables into bite size pieces. Include as many varities of veggies as possible. It adds to the taste and the dish looks more colorful.

Step 2:  Get some cloves, cardamoms, black cardamoms, a bay leaf, a one- inch cinnamon stick and javitri together. You can leave out javitri, as it is usually hard to find in regular Indian grocery shops. 

Step 3:  Heat oil in a big flat bottomed pan. Add the spices from step 2. Saute them in medium heat for 5 mins and then add Jeera (cumin seeds). I have added shahi jeera, because it tastes better. 

Step 4:  Add two teaspoons each of ginger paste and garlic paste. Saute in medium heat for 3-4 more minutes. Then add the cut vegetables. Add some green chilies. Let the vegetables cook for 10 further minutes.

Step 5:  Add 75g of biriyani masala. I am using the store bought one for this preparation, however you can make your own home-made biriyani masala. (Recipe coming soon). Mix it so that the veggies are coated properly with the masala. Add coriander leaves. 

Step 6:  Add 100g plain curd/yoghurt. Cook till the vegetables are almost done. Then keep the vegetables aside. 

Step 7:  Soak 300 grams of basmati rice or any other flavorful rice in water for 30 minutes. It helps in separating the starch from the grains, so that when you cook the rice the grains don't stick to each other. After 30 mins drain the rice and put it in boiling water. Add salt to taste, a tea spoon of oil and some jeera to the water. Close the heat when the rice is almost done but not completely done. 

Step 8:  In a thick bottomed pan, add the half the cooked veggies. Spread them properly. Then add 75 g of plain yogurt. Add cashews and raisins (These are optional). 

Step 9:  (Optional) Add some crispy fried onions. 

Step 10:  Add a layer of half the cooked rice. Then add the rest of the vegetables. Top it with a layer of rest of the rice. Cover the pan. 

Step 11:   Fill a big pan with 2 inches of water. Then put the pan with the rice and veggies in it. and cook on medium to low heat for 30 mins. 

Step 12:  Enjoy your biriyani!