Vegetable Dum Biriyani

This is my simple Veg Dum Biriyani recipe.

- 1 c basmati rice

- 2 T oil

- 1 t cumin seeds

- 2 bay leaves

- 4 cloves

- 1 cinnamon

- 5 green cardamon

- 1 onion

- 1 t ginger paste

- 2 medium tomatoes

- 1 1/2 t chilli powder

- 1 t turmeric powder

- 1 t coriander powder

- 1 1/2 c mixed vegetables (cauliflower, carrot, potato, beans)

- 1 t garam masala powder

- salt to taste

- saffron a bit

- fried onion

- some warm milk

- mint leaves

- 2 T yogurt

Let the rice soak in water for 10 mins, then drain the water and add 1 c water to the 1 c rice and salt, then pressure cook for 2 whistles. Set aside the par cooked rice.

Par boil the vegetables in the microwave. Put the vegetables in a microwave safe bowl, add water and microwave for 5 mins.

Ground the cumin seeds, bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon and cardamon into a powder.

Place a saucepan over medium flame and add oil, then add in the chopped onions and saute until soft.

Into the saucepan add the ginger paste and tomatoes and saute further until the tomatoes have softened.

Add the chilli powder, turmeric powder, salt to taste, coriander powder, garam masala and the powder that we grounded earlier with the fresh spices. Then add the par boiled vegetables and stir everything together.

Add a little bit of water and cook the vegetable mix covered for 3 mins on medium flame, to allow all the spices to infuse into the vegetables.

Remove the lid from the saucepan and add 2 T yogurt to the vegetables, then stir again and keep on the stove for another 1 min uncovered and let some of the remaining water evaporate from the mix. However keep some of the sauce in the mix. Remove it from the heat and keep aside.

Add the saffron to the warm milk, and wash and chop the mint leaves.

With the rice, vegetable mix, saffron milk, mint leaves and fried onions ready, you can start layering the dum biriyani. Take a heavy bottom pot, firstly add some of the vegetable mix, then sprinkle some mint leaves and fried onion, layer some of the par cooked rice and spoon some of the saffron milk onto the rice. Repeat this method until all the ingredients are used up. Then cover the pot with Aluminium foil.

Place a flat tawa, or pan on the stove top over medium heat. Place the pot with the biriyani on top of it, and place a lid or plate over the pot. Allow it to cook this way for 15 minutes. Then check if the rice is cooked nicely. Then if you find the rice cooked, remove from the heat. (wearing gloves, or with other heat protection)

Give the ingredients a mix and serve on a plate.

Tip: You can serve with onion raita or anything else you like, or just eat it by itself!