Veg Biryani
Biryani is what I often make, at least once in a week. Since it is so easy to make, plus it taste delicious and family approved. I have quite a few biryani recipes in my blog and each one is made different. Biryani taste different each time by the veggies you use and the method you make. This is one of the best veg biryani i ever made. I have posted so many version of biryani in this blog like capsicum biryani, baby corn biryani, paneer biryani, brinji rice and etc.
About Veg Biryani
Vegetable biryani is a fragrant rice dish made with basmati rice, vegetables, herbs, and biryani spices. If made by layering and cooking on dum, veg biryani is just as good as non-veg biryani. The vegetables and spices combine to create a medley of flavours and aromas that will tantalise your taste buds just as much as a biryaniwith meat would. Veg biryani is made with basmati rice, vegetables, whole spices and spice powders. Instead of basmati rice, you can use seera samba rice for more flavourful biryani. Check my chettinad biryani for detailed recipe. The secret for a perfect biryani is the perfect biryani masala spice mix. My homemade biryani masala powder is the answer. Biryani made with this taste great. Similar Recipes,Capsicum BiryaniCoconut Milk Veg BiryaniCabbage Soya Chunks BiryaniWheat Rava Biryani
Veg Biryani Ingredients
Basmati Rice- To attain the best results, the basmati rice should be fragrant and long-grained. The best results will come from aged basmati rice. Onions & Tomatoes - Onions and tomatoes form the base for biryani. it adds the necessary sweetness and tartness to the biryani. Vegetables - mixed veggies like carrot, beans, green peas, cauliflower is commonly used. But in veg biryani you can use any vegetables of your choice. Spice powders - homemade biryani masala powder is used. If you don’t have biryani masala powder, use 1 tbsp chilli powder, 2 tbsp coriander powder, 1 tsp turmeric powder and 2 tsp garam masala powder. Fresh Masala - ginger, garlic, coriander and mint leaves is ground in a blender to a paste which adds a unique aroma to biryani.
What all Vegetables is used in Veg Biryani
Mixed veggies like carrot, beans, green peas, cauliflower is commonly used. But in veg biryani you can use any vegetables of your choice. Beetroots, potatoes, soya chunks, paneer, baby corn can be used in the biryani for added taste. Chop vegetables into cubes for even distribution in the veg biryani.
Homemade Biryani Masala Powder
In this veg biryani recipe I have used a combination of regular masala powders like chilli powder, coriander powder and garam masala powder. But instead of using these spices you can add biryani masala powder instead. I have shared a detailed recipe for homemade biryani masala. You have to dry roast all these whole spices and grind them to a powder.
Ingredients for Biryani Masala Powder
1 stick Cinnamon 2 tsp Fennel Seeds 1 tsp Cumin Seeds 2 Bay Leaf 5 Green Cardamom 1 Black Cardamom 4 Cloves 2 Mace 4 Kalpasi 3 tbsp Coriander Seeds 4 Dry Red Chilli 1 Star Anise 1 tsp Whole Black Pepper
4 Methods of Cooking Veg Biryani
Pressure Cooker - fast and instant version for making veg biryani is using a pressure cooker. Saute ingredients, add rice and water and pressure cook for 1 whistle. I use 1.5 cup of water for 1 cup of basmati rice. Cooking Pot - If you are cooking in an open cooking pot. I used 2 cups of liquid for every 1 cup of basmati rice. Pour 1 cup water and 1 cup coconut milk for every 1 cup of rice. Dum Style - this method is made by layering vegetable masala with cooked basmati rice, fried nuts, fried onions, coriander mint leaves, saffron and ghee in a heavy bottom pot. The entire pot is cooked in low flame under a tight sealing lid. Instant Pot - Easy and more convenient method for making veg biryani is in an instant pot.
Veg Biryani in Pressure Cooker
Pre-preparation
1)Wash and soak basmati rice for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. Soaking rice helps remove the excess starch from the rice and makes it more fluffy. 2)Grind ginger, garlic, coriander leaves, mint leaves to a smooth puree and set aside.
Frying Onions
3)Heat oil+ghee in a pressure cooker. Add in bay leaf or in my case I used pandan leaf in the oil and let them sizzle. Now add in sliced onions and fry till golden brown.
Making Biryani Base
4)Add in ground ginger garlic herb paste and saute for 5 minutes till raw smell leaves and the colour changes. 5)Add in chopped tomatoes and cook till it gets soft. 6)Add in biryani masala powder. If you don’t have biryani masala powder, use 1 tbsp chilli powder, 2 tbsp coriander powder, 1 tsp turmeric powder and 2 tsp garam masala powder. 7)Mix the spice powder into the masala. Stir fry for few seconds.
Adding Vegetables
8)Add in your vegetables mixture. I used a mix of carrots, cauliflower, green peas, beans. 9)Stir fry the vegetables in the masala for 4 to 5 minutes till raw smell leaves.
Cooking Biryani
10)Add in soaked basmati rice and mix to combined. Stir fry the rice with vegetables for 2 to 3 minutes. 11)Pour in water. Season the biryani with salt. 12)Add in ½ tsp sugar, lemon juice and mix well. Taste and adjust the seasoning. 13)Mix everything, bring it to a boil. 14)Cover and pressure cook for 1 whistle. Turn off the flame, let the pressure release by itself. 15)Now the rice is cooked.
Frying Nuts
16)Heat ghee in a small pan, add cashews and fry till golden brown. 17)Pour the fried nuts into biryani and mix well. 18)Veg biryani ready to serve. Enjoy.
Veg Biryani in Cooking Pot
If you don’t own a pressure cooker, you can make biryani in a regular pot with a tight fitting lid. I used a different masala in this biryani recipe. I ground whole spices along with ginger and garlic for aroma. For making this biryani, I used coconut milk for cooking rice for taste.
Ingredients used
1 cup Basmati Rice 1 large Onion sliced thinly 2 cups Mixed vegetables 1 tsp Turmeric Powder 1 cup Thick Coconut Milk 1 cup Water Salt to taste 3 tbsp Oil + 3 tbsp Ghee
1 piece Cinnamon 1 tbsp Fennel Seeds 1 Star Anise 2 Cardamom 2 Cloves 3 tbsp Ginger 10 Garlic 5 Green Chilli
How to Make Veg Biryani in Cooking Pot
1)Soak rice for 30 mins. Grind all the ingredients given in the list to a paste and set aside. 2)Heat oil and ghee in a pot, Add in sliced onions, salt and saute them for 5 mins or so till it turns light golden. Add in the ground masala and saute for couple of mins. 3)Add in turmeric powder and mix well. 4)Now add in chopped beans and carrots and saute for 5 mins till the raw smell leaves away. 5) Now add in drained rice and toss well in the masala. Stir the rice in the masala for 2 to 3 minutes. 6)Pour in coconut milk and water. Mix well. 7)Bring it to a boil, simmer and cook covered for 10 to 12 mins till the rice is done.Turn off the flame. 8)Gently mix the rice using a fork and cover again and let it sit for 5 minutes this will make the rice fluffier. 9) Serve veg biryani with raita.
Variations
Mangalore Style Veg Biryani
Mangalore has its own take on the country’s most famous delicacy, Biryani. There are many restaurants in the city that serve various rice delicacies such as Shahi Biryani, Prawn Biryani, and the most popular, Beary Chicken Biryani. Recipe for mangalore veg biryani remains same except a special masala is ground using coconut, coriander seeds, dry red chillies, cumin, whole spices.
Mangalore Veg Biryani Masala
3 tbsp Coconut 1 tbsp Coriander Seeds 4 Dry Red Chillies 1 small piece Cinnamon 4 Cardamom 3 Cloves 2 tsp Fennel Seeds 6 cloves Garlic 2 inch piece Ginger 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
How to Make Mangalore Veg Biryani
- Grind the masala mentioned to a smooth paste. this is your mangalore special masala.
- Take a pressure cooker, heat oil. Add in onions and cook till golden. Add in tomatoes and cook till mushy. Now add in the fresh masala and cook till oil separates. Add turmeric, veggies and cook for 5 minutes. Strain soaked basmati rice along with rice, water and bring it to boil. Simmer and cover and cook for 1 whistle. Simmer the flame for 5 mins. Turn off the heat and let the steam go all by itself. 3)Open the cooker and fluff the rice. Serve with raita.
Instant Pot Veg Biryani
Many people prefer to use instant pot to cook veg biryani or any rice dish these days. It is so easy to use and following this method to make any rice dish like pulao, biryani is fail proof.
Grind masala as mentioned in the recipe. Wash and soak basmati rice for 30 minutes. Set instant pot mode to saute. Pour oil into the instant pot. Add in whole spices and let them sizzle. Add in onions and saute till golden. Add in ground masala and vegetables and saute for mins. Add in strained rice, spice powders, salt and water and mix well. Now set the mode to pressure cook mode, set timer to 6 minutes. Let it cook. Once the timer is up, it will automatically change to keep warm | low. Leave the pressure to release manually for 11 minutes. Now lift the quick release vent so the excess steam can release. Open the instant pot and mix the rice gently. Serve.
Here is a video for instant pot veg biryani
What is the difference between veg biryani and pulao? Biryani is prepared using the draining method of cooking, which entails par-boiling the rice in water, then draining, drying, and layering it. Pulao is made using the absorption method, which means that the rice and vegetables absorb all of the water or stock.
More Biryani Recipes
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