Mumbai Vegetable Biryani

The way the veggies are cooked for the Mumbai Style Vegetable Biryani brings a different flavor to the dish.

Of course cashews, fried onions and the masalas add more flavors.

Cauliflower is normally used in the dish but I didn't use it as hubby is not a big fan of Gobi in biryani or Pulav.

I added Bajji Mirchi as it brings a spicy kick to the biryani.

Preparation Time: 10 minutes 

Cook Time: 30 minutes 

Serves : 4-5

Ingredients:

Rice:

Basmati rice: 2 cups 

Cloves : 5

Elachi: 2

Cinnamon: 1" stick 

Bay leaf: 1

Vegetables:

Carrot: 1 large cut into 1" pieces 

Peas : 1 cup

Potato: 1 large peeled and chopped 

Bajji Mirchi : 1 deseeded and cut in circles

Capsicum/green pepper: 1 sliced

Dry masalas:

Garam masala: 1 tsp 

Cumin coriander powder: 1 tsp 

Red chili powder: 1 tsp 

Turmeric: 1/2 tsp 

Hing : 1/2 tsp 

Salt to taste 

To make a corse paste:

Ginger : 2" piece 

Garlic : 8 cloves

Green chilies: 4

Salt : 1/4 tsp 

Others:

Onion : 2 sliced ( 1 for fried onions )

Tomato: 1 puréed 

Cashews : 1 tbsp (make a paste)

Curd/ Yogurt: 2 tbsp 

Method:

Cook rice separately add all the ingredients listed with a lot of water and drain it off.

Heat 2 tbsp of ghee and fry all the veggies until they are completely cooked. It should take 5-7 minutes. Take them into a bowl.

Add 1 tbsp of ghee to the same pan and sauté onion till translucent. Add the green chili paste and fry for one minute. Add the dry masala powders, salt and mix well. Add the tomato purée and cook for 2 minutes. Add curd, cashews paste and mix well. Cook for 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup water and cook until the gravy is thick.

Take a heavy bottomed vessel pan and layer with rice first, masala, coriander leaves, mint leaves and fried onions. Do the same layering one more time, add food coloring if using, close lid and keep it on the stove on simmer for  10 minutes.

Turn off the stove, let it rest for 5 minutes before opening the lid.

Garnish with more fried onions before serving.