Hyderabadi Vegetable Biriyani

Hi friends, after a terrible weekend and ending up with a migraine, I am totally tired, and when I saw the date I knew if I don't do it today I am going to miss an other event, for which I made this few days back, but never got the time to post, I missed the last one and could not post it on time. yes, I think you all got it, Nupur's One dish meals, I hope she likes this..
As I was searching from all the bloggers what will I cook, I saw this in Viki's kitchen, I love all kind of pulavs, biryanis, and needless to say my family loves them too.., at least twice in a week I love to eat all kind of veggie Rices.
I wanted to make something nice that day as my H called me and said our friend from India would be visiting us, He came that night  and left early morning, it was such a short trip and we were upset as he was not able to stay with us a little longer. well, anyways whatever time he was with us was just fine and after a long time we were able to meet each other.
Coming back to the recipe, Viki is one of my favourite bloggers, with lots of varied recipes and her most interesting one which I have to still try it out, but keep going their to look at it now and then, my favourite tuti-frootis. Some day I will  make them soon and post some recipes out of it, fingers crossed.

HYDERABADI VEGETABLE BIRIYANI





















INGREDIENTS:
To cook Rice:
3 cups Basmati Rice
1 to 1 and 1/2 tsp - salt
5 and 1/2 cup water
3 - Bay leaf
1 - Star aniseed
1 tsp Shahi Jeera (black cumin)
1'' Cinnamon
4 Cloves
3 Cardamom
4 tbsp of Lemon Juice
2 to 3 tbsp of Ghee
METHOD:
I did not do as viki said, I had no time, I just took a big wok heated the ghee added all the whole masalas said above gave it a little fry and then with salt and  water I added the rice and cooked until 3/4th done and kept it aside

FOR FLAVOURED WATER/MASALA

2 tbsp of Kewar water

10 Black pepper corns

1/2'' Cinnamon

2 Cardamom

2 cloves

1 tsp Kali jeera(shahi jeera/Black cumin)

2 Green chilli

1 strand of Mace (jaipathri)

A pinch of Nutmeg powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 lemon juice

1 tsp sugar.

FOR THE MASALA

Around 3 cups of Chopped vegetables (Cauliflower, beans, carrot, peas, capsicum etc.,)

2 tbsp of Ginger Garlic paste

1 tbsp of Chilly powder

1 tbsp of salt

1/4 tsp Turmeric powder

1 Cup Plain yogurt

1 tbsp of Ghee

FOR GARNISHING AND DECORATION

2 Slices of Bread

10 Cashews

10 Raisins

2 tbsp of Ghee

1/2 cup of mint and Coriander leaves

2 to 3 strands of Saffron

3 tbsp of oil

1 Cup thinly sliced Red onions
FOR DUM/DHUM PROCESS
Chapati Dough
Dosa Tawa
A tight lid

METHOD:

Chop the vegetables into long strips, and other vegetables accordingly like florets of cauliflower etc.,  (Viki said to put with all the above ingredients to mix together and put them in the bottom of the dhum vessel, but I did not do that way).

This is how I did it, and tweaked the recipe a little bit.

I took an other wok, took more than 2 tbsp of ghee, added the G-G paste, then the vegetables and the when they were half way cooking I added chilly powder, salt, turmeric powder and made a powder of the masala under the flavoured water I roasted and powdered the Green chilli, cinnamon, clove, cardamom, Shahi Jeera, Mace and nutmeg with 3 tbsp of Shaan Brand Biryani Masala powder. 

Once the vegetables were 3/4th done I added these powder and mixed well, and then kept them aside

 Next in the same wok I poured 2 tbsp of oil and then fried the chopped onions until golden brown I used Red onions, do not fry it too much it starts giving a sour taste, after frying I kept them aside on to a plate.

Then I took an other 2 tbsp of Ghee and fried Cashews and Raisins and kept them aside.

Then I took a cup of yogurt added a bit of salt, and kept aside.

Then I cut Bread slices into cubes and fried them in ghee, Instead of soya chunks I used Paneer fried them too and kept aside (sorry cannot show in photo, as I am not able to trace it, if I find it in my haystack of clicks I will update it).

Then I took a Big vessel which has a lid on top ( I had taken photos of these too everything step-by-step of how I did it, God knows where it is :(....)

First of all I took my tawa and heated it on the stove top, while I was arranging this Biryani, In a medium flame.

First of all I applied 2 to 3 tbsp of Ghee, to the bottom of the vessel and then I spread a layer of Rice, then the vegetables masala, Lemon juice, then the fried onions, Bread, Paneer, Cashew and raisins then sprinkled the coloured water and a few tbsp of yogurt, Garnishing with mint and coriander leaves, then again a Layer of Rice and follow the same procedure again until I used up all the things which I had kept ready then covered it with a chapati dough, and this method is called Dhum way of Cooking just like this

Cover the vessel with the dough then tightly close the lid and place this on the tawa and allow it cook in low flame, this method of slow cooking will ensure that it is well cooked and aroma, is spread throughout the dish.
Even you can cook in the oven in a slow cook for around 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours.
I cooked on the stove over the tawa, until my friend came home.

It was such a lovely dish, as usual my H was not very happy as it had cashews and raisins otherwise he said it was fine. Thanks viki for this lovely dish, Hoping that this goes to Nupur's event