Vegetable Biryani

Name: Vegetable Biryani
Total time: 50 min
Yield: Family
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 2 cups basmati rice; 3 cups mixed vegetables; 2 onion, sliced; 1/2 cup yogurt or coconut milk; 2 tbsp biryani masala; a pinch saffron; to taste whole spices (bay, cardamom, cinnamon); 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste

Vegetable biryani is a fragrant Indian rice dish layered with spiced vegetables and aromatic basmati. Each forkful is perfumed with saffron, whole spices, and fresh herbs. It is a satisfying, festive one-pot meal that is naturally vegan.

Indian Vegan Vegetarian Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Stovetop Dinner Family One-Pot Comfort Food

⏱ 50 min
📊 medium
🍽 Family

Ingredients

2 cups basmati rice
3 cups mixed vegetables
2 onion, sliced
1/2 cup yogurt or coconut milk
2 tbsp biryani masala
a pinch saffron
to taste whole spices (bay, cardamom, cinnamon)
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste

Instructions

Soak the basmati for 30 minutes, then parboil with whole spices until just underdone and drain.
Fry the onions until golden, reserving some for garnish.
Cook the vegetables with the ginger garlic paste, biryani masala, and yogurt until tender.

Layer the parboiled rice over the spiced vegetables.
Drizzle with saffron soaked in warm water and scatter the fried onions.
Cover tightly and steam on low heat for 15 minutes, then fluff and serve.

💡 Chef's tip

Soak the basmati for 30 minutes and cook it only until just underdone before layering, so it finishes to perfect, non-mushy grains during steaming.

Layering parcooked rice over the spiced vegetables and steaming them together, a method called dum, lets the rice absorb the aromas while staying fluffy and separate.