Vegetable Briyani( Without Briyani Masala)

Hello All

Spring came with lots of refreshing flowers .... Cherry Blossom... Fresh flowers all over ....Summers are too close now .... here in US we can feel more refreshing and positive with new leaves ..flowers coming on trees...It feels so relief by seeing tress full of flowers after a long winter..... So its just not onlyrevitalize nature but us also with new spark to go out .. explore places.... to enjoy summers ... after depressing boring winters ....

Some of the pics taken by me husband... See how beautiful these flowers are :) :).... Love there colors ... softness... freshness... Me and my husband are nature lovers... We just love greenery... scenic view... gardens..parks.. waterfalls...to visit.... Long drive in mountains full of trees.... Sitting beside a lake... admiring nature around us... Last year we visited Longwood gardens in PA.So many different species of plants were there... with lots of characteristics...it was a amazing experience to go there...

Lots of talk on nature today :) :)...hope you people not got bored ... So lets move on towards today dish... that is Veg Briyani... I guess everyone loves briyani... my husband loves a lot... But I Don't like to use store brought Briyani masala for making Briyani... because it has big big pieces of masals which comes in mouth while eating briyani....And also it not always briyani masala available at home... So with normal our daily masala's I make Briyani... Let's start with the Vegetable Briyani ... 

Ingredients :-

Basmati Rice 1 1/2 cups(Soaked in water for at least 1/2 hour)
French beans 15-20 chopped in pieces
Carrots 2 medium size (Sliced in long pieces)
Half medium sized Cauliflower chopped in big big pieces
Green peas shelled 1 cup
2 big onions sliced
2 medium size Potatoes sliced vertically
Salt to taste
Cloves 3-4
Cinnamon 1/2 inch stick
Bay leaf 1
Green cardamons 3-4
Black cardamom 1
Shahi jeera1/2 teaspoon
Red chilli powder 1 tablespoon
Cumin Powder 1 teaspoon
Ginger-garlic paste 1 1/2 tablespoons
Turmeric powder 1 teaspoon
Coriander powder 1 tablespoon
Yogurt 1/2 cup
1-2 tsp Chat masala
Saffron (kesar) a few strands
Garam masala powder 1 teaspoon
Fresh coriander leaves chopped 1/2 cup
Fresh mint leaves chopped 1/2 cup
3 tablespoon of oil for briyani and 1/2 cup of oil for frying onions

Procedure :-

In a big vessel boil rice in four cups of salted boiling water.Add two green cardamoms, one black cardamom, 2-3 cloves, half inch stick of cinnamon.Once rice is 70% cooked,drain excess water and set aside. Heat a heavy bottom non-stick pan.Add oil.Once hot add the remaining green cardamoms, cloves, black cardamom and cinnamon along with bay leaf and shahi jeera and roast. Wash all the vegetables thoroughly.Now add  carrot, French beans, cauliflower florets , potatoes and green peas and cook it till they are 70% done.

Now sprinkle salt as per taste, cover and cook on medium heat for two minutes. Add ginger-garlic paste mixed with a little water and stir. Cover and cook for two minutes. Add turmeric powder, red chilli powder and coriander powder, cumin powder and cook.Whisk yogurt and add to the vegetables. Cook it on medium flame for 2-3 minutes.And stir it.Add Garam Masala and some of the chopped coriander and mint leaves and switch off the flame.In another pan heat remaining oil.Once hot put the sliced onions and cook it till they become golden brown and crispy.Take out on the paper towel.

From the vegetable pan take out some vegetables.And keep it aside.In the same pan spread the remaining vegetable such that it should cover the bottom of the pan fully.Now spread a layer of rice.On that sprinkle some chat masala and chopped coriander and mint leaves.Put a new layer of vegetables on rice.On that again put rice layer.Sprinkle again some chat masala.And Fired onions with coriander and mint leaves.Sprinkle some saffron milk(optional).Also you can add some desi ghee on corners for flavour(optional).Cover the pan with lead.And on low flame let it cooked for another 15-20mins.If pan is not that thick from bottom you can place it over another pan so that briyani should not get burned from downside.

Note:- You can also used boiled Soya Chunks in Briyani.

Serve hot with Curd or raita.

Hope you all like this recipe.Do let me know the outcome.You can share your experiences , queries with me.I will come soon with new recipe.Till then enjoy Briyani :)♥