vegetable biryani

This is very simple n basic version of Vegetable Biryani. I mostly make this for Weekend lunch, easy n aromatic preparation. You can add any vegetables of your choice.

Ingredients

1. Basmati rice            2cups (soaked for atleast 20-30min)
2. Mixed vegetable      1 and 1/2 cups (carrot,beans,peas,potato,cauliflower)
3. Soya chunks            20no.s 
4. ginger-garlic paste      1-2 tbsp
5. onion          1 big size (cut in length-wise)
6. tomato        2no.s
7. green chilli      8-10no.s (cut slit open)
8. thick curd/yogurt        1tbsp
9. mint leaves        2 tbsp (chopped finely)
10. coriander leaves       1/4 cup (chopped finely)
11. turmeric powder       1/2 tsp
12. fennel seeds    1tsp
13. clove      5-6 no.s
14. cinnamon      2" piece
15. cardamom     3-4 no.s
16. bay leaf        2no.s
17. star anise      1no.
18. oil n ghee   2-3 tbsp each
19. salt as needed

Method

• Heat oil+ghee  in a pressure cooker or heavy bottomed vessel
• Add ingredients from fennel seeds to star anise,let them splutter .
• Now add thinly sliced onions and green chillies, fry till onion becomes light golden brown
• And add ginger-garlic paste and turmeric powder ,saute till the raw smell goes off.
• then add  tomatoes ,mint and coriander leaves,saute nicely till tomatoes get soft n leaves oil
• Add chopped mixed vegs n soya chunks, mix it and add curd,  saute well..
• In this stage if u want u can add 1tsp chilli n coriander powder .
• everything should be sauted nicely and add 4cups of water.
• Let them boil and add rice to it.
• After adding rice let them cook in high flame for 5-7minutes and then turn the flame to low heat.
• Close the lid tightly and it cook in very low flame for 10.15min,once all water gets drained ,
• put a clean kitchen towel on the vessel and then seal it with the lid.
• turn off the stove,but let them in "Dhum" for another 5-10min.
• Now the Biryani is ready to serve with raitha or any curries.
• If u want at the end u can add some ghee roasted cashew nuts n some ghee on the biryani n serve.

Tips: To get separate grains, drain the soaked ricen in a pan put some oil r ghee add 1tsp shahi jeera aftr it splutter add the rice and fry gently and then add to the boiling veg gravy.
or u can fry along with the veg n add necessary water n cook ur biryani.but the above method vl give nice aroma to the biryani.
soya chunks should be soaked in hot water for few minutes and then wash 3 times n drain it n use.


Sending this to Anu's SYF&HWS series ~ Cinnamon Happening @ Reva's Kaarasaaram.