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Vegetable Biryani - Kerala Style

Biryani is the king of all rice recipes and this Vegetable Biryani has mixed vegetables and basmati rice, all cooked down in a medley of spices! Seriously, the best thing ever!
Course Rice
Cuisine Indian - Kerala
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 4
Author Manju

Ingredients

  • For the rice:
  • 1 cup basmati rice
  • salt to taste ( about 1 tsp, but adjust according to the salt you use)
  • 2 tablespoon ghee
  • 1 ¾ cups water
  • For the vegetable sauce base:
  • 3 tablespoon ghee
  • 1 large red onion chopped
  • 2 green cardamom
  • 1 star anise
  • 2 strands mace
  • 4 cloves
  • 1 inch piece cinnamon
  • 1 bay leaf
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne powder
  • 2 to matoes chopped
  • 1 cup cauliflower floret
  • 2 yellow potatoes diced, about 1 cup
  • 2 carrots diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • ½ cup chopped green beans
  • salt to taste
  • To grind to a paste:
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • ¼ cup mint leaves
  • a handful of cilantro / coriander leaves about 1 cup
  • 2-3 Thai green chillies
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala powder
  • ½ cup yogurt
  • For the toppings:
  • ½ – 1 cup oil for deep frying
  • ½ red onion cut in half and sliced thinly
  • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
  • 5 slices bread cut into ½ inch cubes
  • 4 tablespoon ghee
  • 2 tablespoon cashew nuts
  • 1 tablespoon golden raisins
  • ¼ cup packed cilantro chopped finely

Instructions

  • Rice: Wash the rice and fry it in the ghee for a couple of minutes. Add the water and salt and let it cook till you can no longer see the water and small bubble-holes form on top of the rice. Switch off heat and cover and keep.
  • Grind the ingredients under “grind to a paste” and keep aside.
  • Heat the ghee in a wide heavy bottomed pan. Add the onion, whole spices, turmeric powder and cayenne and sauté till the onions are soft and light brown. Add the tomatoes at this point and cook till they soften. Add the ground paste and salt and cook for a few more minutes. Now add the vegetables and a little water and cover and cook till the vegetables are soft.
  • Remove the vegetable masala mix to a different bowl. Layer the pan in which you cooked the vegetables in, alternatingly with the cooked basmati rice and the vegetable masala mix, starting and ending with the rice. Keep it covered and cook over low heat for 10 mins or so.
  • Heat the oil for deep frying. Toss the onion slices with the flour and add to the hot oil. Fry till onions are crispy and brown. Drain and keep aside. Fry the bread cubes till they are brown and crispy too. Drain on paper towels.
  • Heat the ghee and fry the cashew till it is golden brown and the raisins, till they puff up.
  • Switch off the heat of the biryani pot and garnish with the fried onions, bread cubes, cashews and raisins. Top with finely chopped cilantro. Serve hot with a raita of your choice, biryani chammanti / chutney and some Indian pickles.