MIXED VEGETABLE BIRYANI 

Many times  when I ate in hotels and other places , I noticed  that the “ Biryani” served there  was  , either too grainy or very dry .

I prefer rice to be soft and completely cooked and with enough moisture in it .

So I prepared “ Biryani “ today 

It was “ Mixed Vegetable Biryani “ .

It was Rich and had sufficient moisture in it .

INGREDIENTS

1 ½ cups of Basmati Rice 

2 cups of Mixed Vegetables  like Cabbage , Carrots , French Beans , Capsicum and Peas , very finely chopped

1 onion very finely chopped 

1 Medium Tomato – Very finely chopped 

10-12  Cashew Nuts , cut into pieces or Halves 

FOR GRAVY

2 Medium sized onions  finely chopped 

2 Big tomatoes  Finely chopped 

2 inches long piece of Ginger -Grated

5-6 Garlic pods –Grated 

10-12 Cashew Nuts , Cut into pieces or made into Halves 

1 bowl of Thick curd 

2 Tablespoons of Cooking oil 

1 Teaspoon of Ghee 

SPICES

1 Teaspoon of Shah Jeera 

4 Green Cardamom 

5-6 Cloves 

3-4 pieces of Cinnamon sticks about an inch 

3 Dry Red Chillies 

1 Teaspoon of Jeera 

2 Bay Leaves 

½ Teaspoon of Turmeric Powder 

Salt  As per requirement 

2 Tablespoons of Cooking oil 

1 Teaspoon of Ghee 

SPICE POWDERS  

1 Teaspoon of Garam Masala 

 1 Teaspoon of Coriander Powder 

½ Teaspoon of Jeera Powder 

½  Teaspoon of Turmeric Powder 

Salt  As per requirement 

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FOR GARNISHING

2-3 Medium sized onions

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Fried Cashew Nut Halves and Caramelized Onion Slices 

METHOD

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Wash the Basmati rice well and drain out the water completely .

Now add 2 cups of water to it.

Add a pinch of salt to it  and cook it in the pressure cooker for five minutes  and put off the flame .

Once the pressure is released , shift the rice to a big Thali and spread it gently for cooling .

To start with the preparation of Gravy 

Heat a frying pan .

Pour  the cooking oil and Ghee into it .

When hot , simmer the flame and put the Cashew Nut halves and fry  till they turn golden . Take them out and keep them  aside .

In the same oil , first put the Bay leaves and next put all the spices .

Next add the chopped onions  and next grated Ginger and Garlic and Stir Add the Cashew pieces , which are kept for this purpose and stir well ..

Add chopped tomatoes . 

Add the  salt and Turmeric powder and stir well .

Put off the flame .

Take out the Bay leaves and keep them aside .

They will  be added later again .

Shift the mixture into a mixie bowl and allow it to cool down .

Put the sliced Onion pieces into a microwavable bowl.

Add 1 teaspoon of cooking oil , a pinch of Turmeric powder and a pinch of salt to it and mix it very thoroughly .

Place it in the microwave and cook it in medium heat , till you get the required color and the texture .

 Heat the frying pan again 

Pour the remaining oil and Ghee into it 

Add Jeera to the hot oil  and simmer the flame .

Add  the chopped Onions and stir it well . 

Bring the flame to the medium .

Add the Capsicum pieces  and next  add the Cashew nut pieces to it and Stir well

 Now add the chopped Tomato pieces and stir it again .

Add the remaining Turmeric powder and salt to it and finally add all the vegetables .

Add all the powdered spices to it and stir .

Add a handful of water to it and cover it and cook, in medium heat , till all the vegetables are completely cooked .

Grind  the mixture , which was put into the mixie , to a smooth paste.

Add this to the cooked vegetables .

Put the bay leaves back into this  

Start heating this .

Whisk the curd well and add to this  and keep stirring constantly , in order to avoid curdling 

When it comes to boil , add a handful of  caramelized onion to it  .

Put off the flame .

Take  a  flat bottom utensil 

Start making the layers into it .

First the gravy with the vegetables .

Over it one layer of cooked rice .

Continue this and make sure that you end up with the Gravy on top .

Garnish with the Caramelized onion slices and Fried Cashew  halves .

Take an Alumunium foil piece  and close the utensil very tightly from all the sides  , making sure that nowhere it is open .

Heat a Tawa .

Place the utensil on the TAWA   and  let this get heated on the Tawa for 20 -25 minutes 

Serve the “ Mixed Vegetable Biryani” plain or with Chips