Vegetable biryani in a pressure cooker is a easy one pot meal with handy biryani masala. It yields a perfect, light, fluffy and non sticky rice loaded with colourful veggies and mild spices. It is a good recipe for beginners and you don’t need coconut or yoghurt for this recipe, but you can go with coconut milk instead of water. But i have avoided it , to keep it light. Do try this and post your feedback..

INGREDIENTS:

2½ cups Basmati Rice

½ cup Carrot, chopped

½ cup French beans, chopped

½ cup Potato, chopped

½ cup Green Peas

2 Onions, sliced

1 Tomato, chopped

4 tablespoons Biryani masala

3 Green chilly, slit

1 tablespoon Ginger Garlic paste

A handful of Mint and Coriander leaves

3 tablespoons Oil + 2 tablespoons Ghee

1 Bay leaf, 2 Cardamon, 1 Cinnamon stick, 3 clove, 1 Star anise, 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds

Juice from ¼ Lemon

4 cups Water

Salt required

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a pressure cooker, add oil and ghee. When it is heated, add bay leaf, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, star anise and cumin seeds. Now add sliced onion and green chilly. Saute in medium flame till it turns golden brown.

Add ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell goes off.

Add mint and coriander leaves, cook for few minutes. Add tomato and cook till it mashes well. Add chopped veggies and salt. Cook for few minutes in low flame.

Add biryani masala and saute for a min.  Pour 4 cups of water and allow it to come to single boil.

Add basmati rice and mix well. Do not immediately close the pan. When it comes to single boil, close the cooker and put the whistle.

 

Keep the flame very low and cook for 10 min. Don’t let the pressure to release. After 10 min, switch off the flame and remain the cooker closed for 15 min.

Open the cooker and gently fluff the rice using a spatula. Don’t break the rice.

Add lemon juice and mix gently. Serve hot with Raita.