Veg Biryani, No Onion No Garlic

Most times people associate Biryani with that flavor called "VashaT" in Marathi. To prove them wrong I made this Veg Biryani. No onion, No garlic!

It is a veg biryani made from pantry staples. It is quite quick to make. Unlike my healthy low oil style of cooking this one is about lot of fried veggies.

Ingredients

1.5 cups Basmati Rice
1/ cup cauliflower
1/2 cup green peas
1/4 cup diced paneer
2 small potatoes
1.5 teaspoon garam masala
1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
1 handful of cashew nuts
1 handful of golden raisins
2 tablespoon oil
1/2 cup curd
salt to taste

Wash Basmati rice and clean. Cook it with 2.5 cups water in a pressure cooker. Allow a single whistle. Put off heat. Once it is cooled open the cooker and remove the cooked rice on a tray. Let is cool further and then fluff it up with a fork. This should be done with a light hand to avoid breaking the long grains of rice.

Then in a wok heat oil. Fry the cauliflower till golden remove in a plate. Then cut the washed potatoes into wedges. Fry them till golden. Keep aside. Now it is the peas, fry till the green color intensifies. Add the cashews and raisins. Mix in the garam masala and the red chili powder. Cook for 5 mins. Now add the diced paneer. Cook another 5 mins till masala coats the paneer. Now mix in the fried potatoes and cauliflower. Lastly add the curd and salt and cook for another 5 mins. You will see the oil separates at this point. Put off the heat.

Finally to plate the Veg Biryani, layer out the cooked Basmati rice on a serving tray. Follow in by a layer of the Curried vegetables. On top another layer of rice and now the fourth one is again a vegetable layer.

This vegetable biryani tastes spicy without even a remote reference to "VashaT". Actually this could be called a Jain style cooking.

Mixing the curried vegetables into the rice delicately the wafts of basmati makes the bowl inviting. The cashews lend the nutty and raisins a sweet note to the rice.

Bal do try it. I have avoided whole spices in this one and used garam masala so cooking is a breeze for you.

Weekend dinner: Veg Biryani with Potato papads and Mango milkshake