Thursday 29 October 2009

Spicy Vegetable Biryani (Authentic & best ever)

Ingredients:
Basmati rice - 2 1/2 cups
Onion - 2 nos
Garlic pods - 10 nos
Ginger - 1" piece
Oil - 2 tbsp
Ghee or Butter - A scoop of tbsp
Chopped tomatoes - 1/2 of the tin
Green chillies(small) - 2 nos
Bell peppers - 1 - 2 nos
Mushrooms and Vegetables - As your wish*
Lime or lemon juice - 2 tsp
Yoghurt - 2 tbsp
Spices(Any kind would be nice - Ground or fresh
Cloves
Cinnamon
Cardamom
Garam masala - 1 spoon
Biryani masala - 1 spoon
Royal curry powder or chilly powder - As reqd
Turmeric powder - 1/4 of a small spoon
Salt - As reqd
Coriander leaves

*Can use potatos, green peas, carrots, beans, cauliflower... Mixed vegetables would be great & easy. Otherwise we can also use fresh ones depending on the availability. To be frank, I use to add whatever I catches to my hand when I open the refrigerator. But do not use cabbage or green leaves.

Preparation Method:
1)Grind garlic, ginger, one-fourth of the onion & green chillies together with a little amount of water & keep aside.
2)Wash the rice & soak it in the water & keep aside.
3)Heat oil & ghee/butter in a pan.
4)Add the remaining onion & fry them until it turns to golden brown.
5)Add the spices to them & saute for 2 mins.
6)Add the ground paste & fry for 5 mins.
7)Add the tomatoes, turmeric powder, salt, garam masala, biriyani masala, royal curry/chilly powder to it & cook for 5 mins on low flame.
8)Add all the vegetables, bell peppers, mushrooms & close the lid & cook for 5 - 10 mins.
9)Drain the water from the rice & add to them & stir for 2 - 3 mins.
10)Add lime juice & yoghurt to it & stir well.
11)Add 5 cups (same 1:2 ratio of rice & water) of water to it & close the lid.
12)Cook until the rice is done in the stove or in the oven.
13)Finally, add the coriander leaves for better flavour.

Suggestions for better taste:
1)Oven cooking tastes better.
2)Serve with mint or onion flavoured yoghurt.
3)It is not necessary to use all the spices & masala powders. We can use what we have. But for perfect Indian taste, the specified things would be better. Garlic-ginger-chillies-onion paste is the magic & we can very well feel that, when we add them.

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