Vegetable Biryani!!

VEGETABLE BIRYANI

Ingredients

The Rice:

·         1 and half cup basmati rice

·         2 green cardamoms

·         2 black cardamoms

·         2 cloves

·         1 cinnamon of 1 inch

·         1 bay leaf

·         2 mace strands

·         3 cups water

·         salt

The Vegetable Gravy:

·         ½ medium sized cauliflower

·         1 medium sized carrot, diced

·         1 cup of chopped french beans

·        1 cup green capsicum

·         ½ cup fresh peas

·         1 & ½ onion, finely sliced

·         1 green chili, slit

·         1 tsp jeera

·         2 green cardamom

·         1 black cardamoms

·         2 cloves

·         1 cinnamon of 1 inch

·         1 bay leaf

·         ¼ tsp turmeric powder

·         ½ tsp garam masala

·         ½ tsp red chili powder

·         2 tbsp cashewnuts

·         1 tbsp raisins

·         2 tbsp almonds, blanched, peeled and sliced

·         3 tbsp ghee

·         salt

·         ½ cup chopped coriander

·         mint leaves

·         few saffron strands

Method: 

1.    Clean the rice in running water.

2.    Now you can pressure cook the rice. You have to cook the rice till its ¾th done. The rice should not be fully cooked but almost cooked.

3.    In a pressure cooker cook the rice till is almost done. Keep it separate.

4.    Heat ghee in the handi.

5.    Add all whole jeera, garam masala, cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves. Fry the garam masala till they crackle.

6.    Now add the onions. Fry the onions till golden brown.

7.    Add the green chili. Fry for a minute.

8.    Add the turmeric, salt and red chili powder. Stir well.

9.    Now add the vegetables and stir for a minute. I microwaved the vegetables for 4 mins before adding it to handi. Stir the mixture well.

10. Add cooked rice to handi. Mix well.

11. Garnish with coriander leaves, raisins cashew nuts and mix carefully without breaking the rice.