Hyderabadi vegetable dum biryani

       Hyderabadi vegetable dum biryani recipe is an authentic vegetarian rice recipe cooked in traditional dum method.Slowly cooking the vegetables in spices and arranging them in layers with semi cooked rice and placing on dum.Dum cooking means using a round heavy bottomed vessel,in which food is tightly sealed and cooked over a slow fire.  Vegetable biryani can be made in various versions by layering the rice with cooked vegetable gravy or with uncooked vegetables marinated with all spices and yoghurt and keeping on Dum.Here I have made by layering the rice along with cooked veggies.

Prep Time: 30 mins    Cook time: 30 mins     Serves : 2

Ingredients:

• Basmathi Rice / Raw rice-  250 gms (1 cup)
• Beans - 50 gms
• Carrot - 50 gms
• Peas - 25 gms (Can add more veggies like mushroom,Cauliflower,Capsicum,Turnip,Potato etc.)
• Onion - 1 medium sized,finely chopped
• Tomato - 2 medium sized,finely chopped
• Ginger paste - 1tsp
• Garlic paste - 1tsp
• Green chilli - 1 slit
• Mint and coriander leaves 
• 1 tsp Chilli powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1/8 tsp Turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp Biriyani masala / Garam masala powder(Optional)
• Salt to taste
• Yogurt - 2 tbsp (whisked)
• Water - 2 cups ( minus 1/4 cup)
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 pinch Saffron food color
• 2 tsp water

For Seasoning:

• Cloves ,Cardomon and Cinnamon stick - Each 2 nos.
• Bay leaves -1
• Oil + Ghee - 3tbsp
• Cashew & Raisins (Optional)

Method:

• Rinse and soak the rice in water for 30 minutes.After 30 minutes drain the rice and cook it in a pressure cooker or open pot method with 1 tsp oil / ghee and 1/4 tsp salt.
• Rice should be in 3/4th consistency the rice should not be fully cooked.
• Cut the vegetables and keep the Seasoning ingredients and masalas ready.  
• In a pan, heat 2 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp ghee. add the seasoning spices and saute till they crackle.
• Now add the onions,green chilli stir and saute them on a low medium flame. 
• Add the ginger-garlic paste,Coriander mint leaves and fry for 1 minute.
• Add the tomatoes ,salt and fry until the tomatoes get soft and mushy.
• Add in the masala powders and whisked yogurt and mix well.
• next add the chopped veggies. saute for a minute
• Then add 1/4 cup of water, stir and close the lid.Allow the vegetables to cook in medium low flame.
• Cook till the veggies are done. don’t over cook the vegetables.
• In 2 tbsp warm milk add a pinch of Saffron food color or 1/4 tsp of saffron strands.Mix 2 tsp water. stir and keep aside.
• Check the gravy,it should have a medium thick consistency and should not be watery or not too dry.
• Do check the salt. Add more if required.
• Take away half of the gravy and keep it aside.

         

• Layer half of the rice on the Gravy in the pan,sprinkle half of the saffron milk.
• Again layer the remaining gravy and the remaining rice. sprinkle the remaining saffron milk on the top.

          

• now cover with a lid and keep a heavy object on it.
• Take a tawa and heat it until it become hot, then lower the flame. Keep the biriyani pan on the tawa. keep the flame to the lowest and cook for 15-20 minutes. 

          

Dum Biriyani is ready to eat.....Goes well with raita,Vegetable Manchurian or any Vegetarian or non vegetarian Rice side dish  etc..