Vegetable Dum Biryani

Vegetable Dum Biryani is a delicious and aromatic rice preparation made with choicest local vegetables stir fried and par boiled rice. The vegetables and rice are then steamed together for a longer period to give the smoky and slow cooked flavor associated with biryani.

You can pair biryani with boondi raita or bathua raita or with dal makhani.

Finally, I did it.

Just like I had this mental block taking on baking which now seems like a lifetime ago. I also had this block of making the first Biryani.

The reasons were plenty – one being that I never managed to keep the grains as separate as should be. So rice dishes are a big panic button for me. Then Biryani is considered a non-vegetarian fare and the vegetarian version is frowned upon.

You get the gist.

Finally, I overcame that fear and chose to tackle it. I also break my kitchen hiatus of the last 2 months with this biryani and a full-fledged meal of Dal Makhani, Paneer Do Pyaza, Boondi Raita, Seviyaan, and Naan. Finger-licking meal.

For this sumptuous biryani, I made use of Zaiqa spices which are personally made and packaged by Anisa Arif of Zaiqa – The Spice Store. She and I are connected on Facebook through a group of passionate home chefs and bakers.

When she approached me to review her range of spices I was thrilled, to say the least as I had heard great reviews about her spices from other fellow members of the group.

She sent me a range of spice mixes to cook from. I was overwhelmed. She is a dear! The best part I liked about the spices is that they are customized to suit one’s needs. You have no-onion, no-garlic mix for Jains (read: me), then you have spices for non-vegetarian fare, and so on. Also, the mixes come with 2 types of recipes behind each package making it so easy to create fantastic dishes with these.

I settled on trying the Biryani and Kadai Jalfrezi Masala from the selection. The result of Biryani is for here to see and devour with your eyes. I will share the images of Paneer do Pyaza soon.

The spices are pretty easy to use and you can make many recipes using these. You can store them in the refrigerator and they stay fresh for a year after opening.

Print Recipe

Vegetable Dum Biryani

The steam cooked and rich Vegetable Dum Biryani to tantalise your senses.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time45 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian, Vegetarian

Keyword: Vegetable

Servings: 750 gram

Ingredients

for the vegetable layer

• 50 gram cauliflower broken into small florets
• 50 gram carrot chopped ¾" long diagonally
• 50 gram french beans chopped ¾" long diagonally
• 50 gram peas shelled
• ½ bell pepper capsicum, halved and sliced ¾" long
• 1 big potato halved and sliced into ¾" long ribbons
• 1 onion halved and sliced ¾" long
• 1 tomato halved and sliced ¾" long
• 2 green chilles chopped ¾" long diagonally
• 3 bayleaves tejpat
• 3 cloves laung
• ½ inch cinnamon stick dalchini
• 1 big cardamom badi elaichi
• ¼ tsp cardamom powder
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp biryani spice mix
• to taste salt

for the rice layer

• 1¼ cup basmati rice long grain
• 3¾ cup water
• 2 cloves laung
• 2 bayleaves tejpat
• 1 tbsp milk
• ½ tbsp vegetable oil
• to taste salt
• few drops of color optional

Instructions

for the vegetable layer

• In a wok, heat the oil and let all the whole spices except cardamom powder temper till they release the wonderful aroma.
• Then add onions and fry them till golden brown. Add the remaining vegetables along with cardamom powder. Allow them to cook till tender.
• Add the Biryani Spice mix. Divide the cooked vegetables in 2 portions. Set aside.

for the rice layer

• In a big pan, boil water with salt, bayleaves, cloves, milk and oil (the ingredients under rice layer). You can cover the pan while the water boils.
• Add rice, allow it to cook uncovered on medium-high flame till hald cooked like al dente stage. Strain the rice, reserving the liquid. I usually use this liquid to make curries or even knead dough. Divide the strained rice in 2 portions.
• Grease a heavy bottom big pan or vessel liberally. Spread one layer of rice in the vessel. Sprinkle 1-2 drops of color on top. Now spread one layer of vegetables on top of it. Repeat with the second layer of rice, color and vegetables. You can divide in more layers if you like. Seal the vessel with aluminium foil.
• Place the vessel on low flame and allow the biryani to cook for 5-10 minutes. Place a griddle pan (tawa) on low flame and move the biryani vessel onto the griddle. Now allow it cook on this indirect heat for another 20-30 minutes or longer if desired.
• Serve hot with boondi raita, mix veg raita or bathua raita.