Ask any Indian utopia about his/her favourite weekend meal and there are high chances that one of the family members will reply with Veg Biryani. It is colourful, smells good and is comforting. I can also recall the initial attempt I made to prepare biryani by myself - the rice was overcooked, the vegetables were undercooked and the entire house was reeking of non cooked masala! However, I promise that when you have the steps down, veg biryani is one of the simplest dishes you can make and at the same time very satisfying.

In this tutorial, I will take you through the recipe of veg biryani step by step, in a simple and easy to understand manner thus allowing even first time cookers to prepare it with ease.

Why Veg Biryani Is Special

Veg biryani is not simply a cuisine but a kind of experience.

Aroma... colours... spices... all that is beautiful.

Biryani is prepared in the dum technique, unlike pulao where rice and vegetables are piled and cooked under low heat. This provides a savoury taste and distinctive feel.

Ingredients You Need

Prepare all your ingredients beforehand. It simplifies cooking to a great extent.

For the Rice

• 4 tablespoons oil or butter, divided into half.
• 6–7 cups water
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 cloves
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• Salt as needed

For the Vegetable Masala

• 2 tbsp oil or ghee
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1 large onion – thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• 2 tomatoes – chopped
• 1 cup curd (preferably thick)
• 2 green chillies – slit
• 2 cups pureed potato pumpkin (acid test, butter, salt or substitutes, freshwater, salt, pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg)
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp biryani masala (not necessary, yet advisable)
• Salt to taste

For Layering

• Several fried onions (not essential, but good)
• Several mint and coriander leaves.
• 2 tab of warm milk and pinch of saffron (optional)

Veg Biryani Step-by-Step Recipe.

Let’s begin cooking. These are the processes that you need to follow in success and then you will have an ideal biryani.

Step 1: Wash and Soak the Rice

Turn off the basmati rice and rinse with clean water 2-3 times.

Soak it for 20–30 minutes. This helps the rice to cook long and fluffy but does not disintegrate.

Step 2: Cook the Rice (70% done)

Bring water, in a large pot, to the boil, with bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon and salt.

Put the soaked rice and boil until the rice is 70 percent cooked that is, the grain should not easily be crushed when pressed.

Strain the rice and reserve.

Step 3: cook the Vegetable Masala.

This is what is at the core of the biryani.

• Fry in a heavy-bottomed pan with heat oil or ghee.
• Add cumin seeds and allow them to splutter.
• Add onions that are sliced and saute until golden.
• Add ginger-garlic paste and cook until the raw smell is removed.
• Add tomatoes and cook till soft and mushy.
• Add spices: red chilli powder, turmeric, garam masala, biryani masala and salt.
• Mix well, then add curd. Stir so as not to curdle.
• Add the vegetables that are chopped and stir.

Roast the vegetables in 5 -7 minutes. They must be half cooked at this point because they will be cooked during dum.

Step 4: Layering the Biryani

Biryani is special because of the layers.

• Prepare the vegetable masala in the same pan (or in a new heavy pot) and leave the vegetable masala at the bottom.
• Add a layer of rice above it.
• Sprinkle fried onions, mint and coriander leaves.
• Add saffron milk in case you are using it.

Continue repeating the layers (masala herbs rice herbs) until all the ingredients are depleted.

Top with the layer of rice.

Step 5: Dum Cooking (Slow cooking)

Seal the pot with a tight lid.

When your lid is loose, put some chapati dough round the edges of the lid to hold it.

Cook on low flame for 20–25 minutes.

The result of this gradual heating is that the flavours mix very well.

Your Veg Biryani Is Ready!

After the dum process has been conducted, open the lid slowly.

The odor will spread to your kitchen - the moment I always look forward to!

Fluff the biryani using a fork.

Do not stir it up rudely; you are not to mix the layers.

Tips for Perfect Veg Biryani

• Rice should always be soaked at least 20 minutes.
• Do not cook the vegetables to death before putting them into a layer.
• To prevent wateriness, use thick curd.
• During dum cook only on low flame.
• To add restaurant taste, add some onions that have been fried.

Serving Suggestions

• Veg biryani tastes best with:
• Onion raita
• Cucumber salad
• Boondi raita
• Papad

In case you are preparing it on occasions of guests or a special dinner, serve it with some light dessert such as gulab jamun or kheer.

A Small Personal Note

Whenever I prepare veg biryani at home particularly on Sundays, it automatically uplifts the entire atmosphere of the house. Even the neighbours occasionally inquire about it, whether they are preparing biryani today since the smell can be easily detected even outside the house! After trying this recipe, you will also possibly receive such compliments.

Conclusion

Veg biryani can also appear fancy yet through proper steps it can be made very easy and fun to prepare.

I wish that this veg biryani recipe step by step guide makes you prepare a delicious biryani, which you and the whole family love.

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Happy cooking