Veg biryani

Thanks Ambika for sharing the recipe of this delicious veg biryani!

Ingredients:
Basmati rice-1 and 1/3 cup of rice or 1 cup,
Potato- 2 small or 1 medium size-peeled  and cubed into small pieces,
Cauliflower-1 medium size-small florets,
Carrot-1-peeled and chopped into small pieces,
Long beans or green beans-100 gms or 1 cup-ends trimmed and then chopped,
Onion- 1-finely chopped,
Ginger -1 tsp,
Garlic- 1 tsp,
Red chilli pwd-1/4 tsp,
Turmeric pwd-1/2 tsp,
Coriander pwd-1 tsp,
Garam masala pwd-3/4 tsp,
Amchoor dry mango pwd-1/2 tsp,
Oil -4 to 5 tbsp,
Ghee-1 tsp,
Salt to taste,
Cumin seeds-1 tsp,
Black pepper-8,
Cloves-4,
White cardamom-4,
Black cardamom-4,
Mace or javitri-1 piece
Whole spices -white cardamom pwd-1/4 tsp,cloves-2,cinnamon-2 sticks.
Water-double the quantity of rice.

Method:

Wash and soak rice for 1/2 hr.
Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a non stick kadhai.
As oil heats up,add cauliflower.

Lower the heat and cover for 5 minutes.

Keep tossing the vegetable in between till  they are tender and light brown in colour.

Take out in a plate and then add 1 tbsp of oil and fry and cook the cubed potatoes the same way.

Once the potatoes are tender and light brown in colour,take them out in the same plate.

Add 2 tbsp of oil and as oil heats up,add the finely chopped onions.

Once the onions are light brown,add carrot and beans.

Cover for few minutes and let it cook on low heat.

Stir after a minute.
The carrots and beans will be a little crunchy.

Remove the lid.
Add salt,1/2 tsp of turmeric pwd,1/4 tsp of red chilli pwd,1 tsp of coriander pwd,1 tsp of ginger  paste and 1 tsp of garlic paste , 3/4 tsp of garam masala pwd and 1/4 tsp of amchoor.

Add the fried cauliflower and potatoes too.

Cover for few minutes and the remove the lid.
Fry the masala in low heat till it evenly coats the vegetables and the sides leave oil.
Close gas.

In another pan add 1 tsp of ghee.
As ghee heats up,add 1/2 tsp of cumin pwd,4 cloves,2 white cardamom,2 black cardamom,8 peppercorn and 1 whole javitri.

Stir and as cumins change colour add rice and fry for few minutes till  light cracks appear on rice.
Close gas.

Heat a deep non stick pan and add water, double the amount of rice.(for 1 cup of rice-2 cups of water)
Add a pinch of cardamom pwd,2 cloves and 2 cinnamon sticks.

As water starts to boil,lower the heat and add rice and the fried vegetables.

Mix and taste the boiling water and then add salt.

Cover and let it cook on simmer for 5 to 7 minutes.
Leave the lid a little ajar for the steam to let out.

After 5 minutes check the donness of the rice.
Close gas,once the rice is cooked.

Close the lid and leave the biryani in the pan for  10 minutes.

Before serving the biryani,mix it lightly with a flat spatulla.
Enjoy this delicious biryani with onion raita.
Makes for 5 servings.
Note:You can add little salt while stirring and frying the vegetables.