Veg Biryani

We have always thought a good biryani can only be made with mutton, but have you ever tasted Hyderbadi Veg Biryani which is quite popular and sold at big restaurants as well as at streets in Hyderabad!
So here's a recipe of Veg Biryani with step by step pictures!

Ingredients:

• Basmati Rice, 1 kg
• Cauliflower florets, 1 cup
• French beans, 3/4 cup
• Potatoes, diced, 1 cup
• Green peas, 1/2 cup
• Ginger-garlic paste, 1 tblspn
• Onion, 5-6 finely sliced
• Tomatoes, 2-3 roughly chopped
• Curd, 1 cup
• Bay leaf, 1-2
• Cloves, 4-5
• Caraway seeds, 1 tspn
• Cinnamon stick, 1-2
• Black pepper, 2-3
• Cardamom, 3-4
• Green chillies, 2-3
• Red chilli powder, 1 tblspn
• Turmeric, 1/2 tspn
• Garam masala powder, 1 tspn
• Oil
• Saffron color, 1 tspn
• Lemon juice, 1-2 tblspn
• Coriander leaves, chopped
• Mint leaves, 1/2 cup
• Salt, to taste

Recipe:

• Wash and soak rice in water.
• Wash all the veggies i.e florets, potatoes, beans and green peas strain all the water and wipe them with a kitchel towel.
• In a wok add sufficient oil.
• Fry onions till they are golden and crispy. Take out and keep aside.
• In the same oil add veggies and fry them till golden. Take out.

• In a big vessel, add enough water to cook rice.
• Add mint leaves, caraway seeds, cloves, bay leaf, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom and slit green chillies.

• Let the water come to boil, add in rice and 2 tblspn of salt cook till 70% done. Strain the water and keep the rice aside.

• In the same vessel, add the 3-4 tblspn of oil in which we fried veggies.
• Add Ginger-garlic paste and stir till golden.
• Add tomatoes, turmeric, red chilli powder, garam masala powder and cook till tomatoes are cooked.
• When the mixture leaves oil, add the fried veggies. Mix well on high flame.
• After stirring for 4-5 mins, add well beaten curd and salt.
• Cover the vessel and cook till the oil comes on top, add 1/2 cup of water and cook on high flame for few mins. Check for salt and spice now and adjust.

• Layer the veggies with fried onions.

• Add rice evenly on the top.
• Add saffron color, lemon juice, and fried onions.
• Garnish with some coriander and mint leaves, pour 2-3 tblspn of oil.

• Cover the vessel with a tight lid and cook till the air evaporates from sides.
• Serve hot with curd raita or any salad of your choice.

Notes:

• If you are taking 1 kg of rice, the veggies should be atleast 1/2 kg in total after cleaning!
• Take good quality rice.
• You can add other veggies of your choice too.
• Do not cut vegetables into very small pieces.
• Frying is not must, if you are a bit health conscious, skip frying of veggies and cook the veggies till tender before layering it with rice.
• Adding paneer also enhances the richness of the biryani.