Vegetable Dum Biriyani

Dum meaning 'Pressure'. Yes, this is some rice cooked with vegetables under lot of pressure - however, not in a pressure cooker.

Recipe courtesy: Neeli aunty

Originally a Persian dish, but we Indians love it for the spice and flavours. In fact, different states of India have a version - Hyderabadi, Mughlai, Awadhi, Malabar. Well! To be honest biriyani is supposed to be a mixture of rice and lamb. Vegetarian biriyani is only to placate the not-so lucky ones. However, as long as it satiates the taste buds, who cares!

Overview - It is cooked in a few steps. I will first list down the ingredients for ease of reference and then the steps. And yes! I believe in "till it feels right" while cooking and hence, sometime exact measurement may be amiss. Use your senses - when you are cooking, it is your dish! :)

Time required - An hour to an hour and a half. Do not try this while rushing. The cooking process and the biriyani - both requires time to be relished and enjoyed. 

INGREDIENTS:

Rice - 2 cups

Vegetables: Potatoes, carrots, capsicum/ green and red pepper, cauliflower/ brocolli, beans, green peas - washed well and cut in chunky cubes (not very small) except peas.

Spices: 2-3 inches Cinnamon stick, 5-6 pods of cardamom, 7-8 black pepper coarsely crushed, 5-6 pods of cloves, 1-2 bay leaves, Jeera/ cumin seeds - a spoonful.

Others:
Saffron - 7-8 strands soaked in milk for 20 to 30 min
Onions - cut in thin long strips
Ginger and garlic - paste or finely chopped (as convenient)
Curd/ yoghurt
Oil 
Ghee/ clarified butter
Tomatoes - thin slices, round or long (as convenient)
Red chilly powder, turmeric powder, salt
Coriander and mint leaves - finely chopped

Most important ingredient - some enthusiasm and love :)

METHOD:

Step 1: 

a) Soak the rice for half an hour.
b) Cook the rice with a small cinnamon stick, 1-2 pods of cardamom and cloves, salt and few drops of clarified butter either on a stove or microwave. Keep aside.
Tip: It should be almost cooked (very very slightly raw i.e. 3/4th cooked). Drain out excess water, if any.

Step 2:

Marinate all the vegetables in a pinch of salt, turmeric and some ginger and garlic paste for 15-20 min.

Step 3:

a) Heat oil and fry the onions till brown and keep aside
b) Heat more oil (be little generous) and throw in all the remaining spices (under the heading spices) and wait till you sense the aroma (1 min approx). 
c) Add the ginger, garlic, the marinated vegetables, salt, red chilli powder, turmeric powder and mix well. Cover and cook for a while.
d) Check it. The vegetables should be cooked and slightly fried but crisp and crunchy. Add some yoghurt - enough to make a very thick gravy. Bring it to boil 2-3 times. There should be some gravy left. If not, add more yoghurt. Add coriander and lint leaves and some drops of clarified butter - just for the INDIAN FLAVOUR! Keep aside.
Tip: Do not overcook the vegetables. Do not mash them. Each piece should be separate.

Step 4:

a) Take a very heavy bottomed pan.
b) Grease it lightly with oil and place the slices of tomato at the bottom. 
c) Spread a thin layer of rice. Then a layer of half of the cooked vegetables. 
d) Half of the remaining rice for the next layer. The remaining vegetables on top - leave some gravy only (and not the pieces of vegetable) for the next layer. Then the fried onions on top of the vegetables. Cover with the remaining rice. 
e) Pour the gravy and the soaked saffron all over the rice evenly.
Tip: Experiment with your layers. You can add roasted cashew and some raisins if you please.

Step 5 (the most important):

a) Cover this pan with a cotton kitchen cloth (should be little thick). Cover the pan with a lid.
b) Place this pan full of the arranged layers on a tawa/ another heavy bottomed flat iron pan/ skillet. Now place this over fire (low flame) for 20 min to half an hour
c) Place something heavy on the lid to prevent the steam from escaping
Tip: Keep an eye - if the bottom is not heavy enough, the rice may burn.

While serving, ensure each plate has a part from all the layers. :) Enjoy the flavours. Eat lots of eat for lunch and take a wonderful siesta afterwards. This is what we call life! This is happiness personified.... :)