Monday, September 6, 2010

Hyderabadi Vegetable Biryani

I prepared this Hyderabadi biryani for a weekend lunch. Hyderabadi biryanis are admired for their beautiful coloration and flavor. The ingredients and steps involved may look a bit complex but in reality it will be an easy breeze if we have around 3 hours of time. If prepared with care, this vegetarian version will be equally tasty like a non veg one.

Typically Hyderabadi biryanis are made with a slow cooking process called dhum cooking and I did my best to bring out the true flavors. Here goes the recipe.

Hyderabadi vegetable biryani served.

To cook rice:
Basmati rice - 2.5 cups (500 gm)
salt - 1 tsp
water - 6 cup
bay leaf - 3
star aniseed - 1
black cumin - 1/2 tsp
cinnamon - 1 inch
cardamom - 4
clove - 4
lemon juice- 1/4 of a fruit

Wash and clean the rice. Soak it for 30 minutes. Bring to boil some 6 cups of water.
Add the bay leaf, star anise, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, lemon juice salt, kali jeera (black cumin) and let the rice gets semi cooked. It should be very firm and almost raw. Drain the water using a colander and keep aside.

For garnishing and decoration:
Bread - 2 slices
(or) soya chunks - 10
cashews - 10
ghee - 2 tbsp
mint leaf , cilantro (chopped)- 2 tbsp
yellow or orange food color - 1 drop ea.
(we can use saffron instead)
cooking oil - 3 tbsp
Red onion - 1 cup (chopped lengthwise)

Heat oil in the same dhum vessel and fry the chopped onions to golden brown. Take it out and save for garnishing.
Cut the bread into 2 inch squares. Heat remaining oil + ghee in the same dhum vessel, fry and take out the cashews. Then carefully fry the bread squares / soya chunks and set aside.

For the masala:
cauliflower - 2 cup
carrot - 1
green peas - 3/4 cup
green beans - 10
raisins - 2 tbsp
red chilly powder - 1 tsp
salt - 1/2 tsp
ginger garlic paste - 2 tbsp
turmeric - 1/4 tsp
ghee - 1 tbsp
plain yogurt (from whole milk)- 1 cup

Now ,wash and clean the vegetables. chop the beans, carrot to long stripes. Branch out the cauliflower to some big chunks. Put all the vegetables with everything mentioned above in to the bottom of the dhum vessel. Mix and spread them uniformly.

For flavored water:
salt - 1/2 tsp
lemon - 1/2
sugar - 1 tsp
kewra water - 2 tbsp
(or, rose essence 2 drops + 2 tbsp water)
ghee - 2 tbsp
black pepper corn - 10
cinnamon - 1/2 inch
cardamom - 2
clove - 2
black cumin (kali jeera) - 1/2 tsp
green chilly - 2
Mace (javithri / jathipathiri) - 1 strand
nutmeg (jathikkai) - a small shaving

Run everything above in a mixer and make a fine liquid. If you don't have enough time then , omit the whole garam masalas and mix 2 tbsp of some good brand biryani masala powder with the other things mentioned above. (I will suggest shaan brand biryani masala powder).

For dhum process:
wide vessel with tight lid
A dosa tawa
chapathi dough using 1 cup wheat flour

Mix the wheat flour with water to get a bread dough consistency and keep aside.
We can use an aluminum foil also, if we do not want to waste the dough. But sealing with dough is the best method and it is called dum / dhum process, which means 'slow cooking with hot steam sealed inside'. I would suggest sealing with the dough for a tasty dhum biryani.

Arranging the layers:
Now spread the semi cooked rice uniformly over the raw vegetable layer.
Mix saffron with 1/4 cup warm milk (or) mix the food color with 2 tbsp water and sprinkle it over the rice. I used food color here.(Food color gives a beautiful look, whereas saffron is healthy).
Place a thick dosa tawa over stove and place the dhum vessel over the tawa.
Over the rice, spread the fried cashews, finely chopped cilantro , mint, friedonion and sprinkle the flavored water.
Place the fried bread / soya chunks and close the vessel with a tight lid.
Seal the edges with the prepared chapathi dough.
If possible add hot charcoal over the lid (I never get a chance to do this).
Start heating the arrangement. Keep the flame at high till the tawa gets heated and then reduce it to a minimum. Leave the whole set up for 2 hours.
After that discard the dough, open the lid carefully.

Hyderabadi vegetable kachchi biryani is ready!

Serving suggestions:
Serve the biryani like a layered rice, so that every plate gets a portion of rice, vegetable masala and colorful topping.The guest has to mix and devour:)
Serve with some spicy gravy  or  raitha of your choice.
I usually prepare some non veg gravies along with this biryani.
Serves 5 to 6 people.

26 comments:

Satya said...

wow hydrabadi biryani is my favorite ...that to veggie version ..yummy ...never made at home dear ...thank q somuch for sharing such a detailed recipe

Satya
http://www.superyummyrecipes.com

aipi said...

Hi dear,
Your biryani looks really well made..I am aware its not the easiest dish to make..you explained it very well ..loved your dhum version!!

US Masala

Hamaree Rasoi said...

This sounds heaven Viki !!! Though time taking but end result looks awesome. Would you mind sharing your plate with me ;-0

Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi

Pavithra Srihari said...

that is very yummyyyyyy

PranisKitchen said...

vegettable hyd biryani really good and how nicely u explained the recipe.. good job viki

veena said...

this is bookmarked:-). lovely pic too

Ushnish Ghosh said...

Dear Viki
Thats the kind of recipe comes from your kitchen only, the detailing is just too good.......I liked it, book marking it for my vege friends....and if I have super-veges as guest ( without onion garlic) then also I will try it..
Have a nice week

Ms.Chitchat said...

Superb recipe. The click reflects the richness of the dish. Loved ur version,thanks for sharing.

Joyti said...

O, that sounds and looks delicious! I've never had a hydrabadi biryani before :)

Saraswathi Iyer said...

Nice detailed recipe.

Sayantani Mahapatra Mudi said...

what a coincidence. am having some Hyderabadi veg biriyani right now. the only difference is its from a take away. you made a super delicious version and I know I will have to try it asap.

Chitra said...

I'll surely try this in a weekend.thnx for sharing dear :)

Rachana said...

This sounds great! Thanks for sharing this delicious and recipe.

Hari Chandana P said...

wow... looks gr8 and awesome.. very tempting click.. thanks for the recipe :)

Unknown said...

Hi,

Wow yummy biryani....

Sameena@

www.myeasytocookrecipes.blogspot.com

Soma Pradhan said...

This is simple a mind blowing recipe for chicken lovers like me...Got to bookmark it

Soma Pradhan said...

Vegetable birynai is looking so delightful and yummy

Nandinis food said...

It's our favourite biryani! I'd grab the plate and won't leave a single morsel!

Nandini's Food Page

Home Cooked Oriya Food said...

Amazing... love it!

Suja Manoj said...

Biryani looks so perfect..loved your version..will surely try this weekend.

Priya Suresh said...

Wat a fabulous looking briyani, worth to try..

Niloufer Riyaz said...

perfect n delicious biriyani!! bookmarking it

sanjeeta kk said...

Love the soya chunks replacing the meat in the recipe.

Jayasri said...

Hi viki, I made this today!, it was very nice thank you for the recipe.

Vikis Kitchen said...

Thanks for the lovely comments friends.
Jayasri: Thanks for trying out dear. I am happy that you liked it. Keep visiting.

Lakshmi said...

I made this with Shaan Biriyani Mix only and it was delicious. I must try out with the falvored water and dum type you have suggested. For Dum, I had used rice cooker which also did a good job.

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