Super Easy Vegetable Biriyani...in 30 mins

What to cook is the biggest challenge for women who have to cook meals everyday for their family. They are in charge of the nutrition, health and taste buds of the entire family. Most of the food that tastes good are not healthy. So what to cook today??

When questions of health arrive in my mind, I cook vegetarian dishes. As a pure non-veg I never took Vegetarian cooking seriously, until God decided to let me experience this style of cooking. I made friends with some amazing Vegetarian cooks, who made me wonder how vegetables turned so tasty with combination of simple ingredients.

Today I will share a recipe, taught by my friend Srinitha Munugala...in one word, this recipe is just "AMAZING!"
Super-easy, super-quick, super-tasty, super-healthy and "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious'!

Vegetable Biriyani in 30mins (Actually it takes less than 30 mins)
Prep-time: 5-7 mins  Cooking Time: 20-25 mins
Makes Biriyani for 2-3 people

INGREDIENTS

1. 2 cups washed Basmati Rice (here I want to mention that the quality of Biriyani depends a lot on the rice used, so if you want good Biriyani, use good quality Basmati rice)
2. 1 cup of chopped vegetables of your choice ( I used 1 carrot, 2 beans, 6 mushrooms, 2 babycorns, 1 tablespoon peas)
3. 1/2 cup boiled Nutrella chunks (optional)
4. a bunch of Mint Leaves
5. a bunch of Coriander Leaves
6. 1-2 green Chillis
7. 2 medium onions sliced
8. 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
9. 2 medium tomatoes chopped
10. 1/2 inch stick of cinnamon (darchini)
11. 2 cloves
12. 2 cardamon
13. 1 bay leaf (tej pata)
14. 1 mace ( javitri) (optional)
15. 2 star anise (optional)
16. 1 teaspoon chilli powder
17. 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder
18. salt according to taste
19. 1 tablespoon oil
20. 1/2 tablespoon ghee

METHOD

1. Take a heavy bottomed pressure cooker.
2. Heat the cooker, switch off the flame and add the oil and ghee.
3. Now add the cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, bay leaves, mace and star anise.
4. Switch on the gas on medium flame, fry lightly till it is fragrant. Be careful not to burn the whole-spices.
5. Add slices onions and stir fry till it turns soft.
6. Now add the ginger-garlic paste. Fry till raw smell goes away.
7. Now add the mint and coriander leaves. Fry.
8. Now add the chopped tomatoes. Fry till tomatoes become soft and mushy.
9. Now add the chopped veggies and Nutrella chunks. Fry till a nice smell comes out of the mixture.
10. Now add chilli powder, salt and garam masala powder. Fry for some time.
11. Now add 2 cups of rice and 3 cups of water. ( Do not mess with the rice- water proportions)
12. Take out the siti of the pressure cooker and cover the lid of the pressure cooker upside down. 
13. Keep the rice 5 mins on high flame and then lower the flame and cook for 10 mins.
14. Now keep checking so that the rice doesn't burn below.
15. If you see the rice has still not cooked and the water has dried up add half cup of water by sprinkling it on top.
16. When  the rice gets cooked, turn off the gas and let it sit for 5 mins before serving.
17. Fluff up the rice and serve with raita or chicken fry or fish fry or any side you want.

Served with raita , this makes a complete meal.