Vegetable Biryani

I know..I know..what you are thinking...I haven't been blogging actively lately....but a lot is happening this month and it's hard to catch up with everything!! Both kiddos birthdays in June, then the Puerto Rico trip...'in-laws' will be here next week...M's work travel....
Anyways....here is my favorite "Vegetable Biryani' recipe that I made for lil 'A's birthday party. The theme was 'Soap bubbles' as she loveeess popping bubbles and I made snack foods that were 'round' like bubbles!!

Round Melon balls in Melon shells-

Nutella sandwiches cut into circles-

Vegetable Biryani Recipe:

Ingredients:
Rice-
1 cup Basmati rice
1.5 cups Hot water plus a little more
4 of each cloves, black peppers,small cinnamon pieces
1/2tsp black jeera
salt
2tsp oil

Vegetable masala-
1/4 cup each of carrots,cauliflower,potatoes,green pepper,peas, corn kernels
1/2 cup dry/fresh grated coconut
2 medium onions sliced
2 medium tomatoes
1tbsp  chopped mint
1tsp sesame seeds
2tsp Biryani masala
2tsp red chili powder
2tsp ginger-garlic
4 of each cloves, black peppers,small cinnamon pieces
1tsp black jeera
salt
4tsp oil

Toppings and garnishing-
1 large onion sliced and fried till golden brown.
1 potato fried like french fries
1/4 tsp saffron in 2tsp warm milk
Chopped Cilantro
Chopped mint
Cashews
Almonds

Method:
1) Wash the rice and keep aside. Heat oil, add the cloves etc, ad the rice and saute for few seconds. Add the hot water,salt and let the rice cook and absorb the water. Cover for 10 mins. Then spread the rice in large plates to cool and help the grains remain separated.
2) For the veg.masala- roast the coconut, onions,tomatoes till golden. Let them cool. Grind in the blender along with ginger-garlic, sesame seeds.
3) Heat 2tsp oil,add cloves,cumin etc and the vegetables. Saute the vegetables till golden.Add the above masala paste, chili powder, biryani masala, salt etc Add very little water and cook.Add the chopped mint and mix.
4) Layering-
Coat the pan with some oil Add some cooked rice in a layer. Top with some Vegetable masala, fried onions, potatoes , chopped mint and cilantro.
Layer with rice again, then masala, then rice again. Top and decorate with the garnishing.
Pour the saffron-milk mixture all over the rice.
Steam in the oven/ stove top on low flame till steaming hot!

Serve hot along with cool cucumber-onion-yogurt Raita!