0 VEGETABLE BIRYANI

It was my friend Senthil vadivu's daughter Navina's B'day. She was almost done with all her cooking, except the rice part...so we all( like around 5 of us)...entered the kitchen and did this vegetable biryani...it was like too many cooks ....but....did not spoil the dish....the biryani tasted good and was very colouful.

Basmati rice - 2 cups
Onion - 1 small chopped fine
Tomato - 2 chopped fine
Green chillies - 2 slit long
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tbsp
Mixed vegetables - chopped 1 1/2 cups
( Potato, beans, carrot, beetroot)
Soya chunks - a handful
Mint leaves - few
Cilantro/coriander leaves - few
Jeera - 1 tsp
Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
Cardamom - 3
Clove - 4
Cinnamon - 2 piece
Bay leaf
Chilli powder - 1 tsp
Biryani masala - 1 tsp ( can use any brand)
Salt as needed
Oil - 2 tbsp
Lime juice - few drops


Wash and soak rice for 10 minutes..later drain.
Soak soya chunks in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes and later squeeze out.
Grind together cilantro leaves, clove -2 , cinnamon - 1, jeera, fennel seeds to a fine paste( you can also avoid ginger garlic paste and add fresh ginger and garlic and make a paste together)
Heat oil(or butter) in a kadai or pressure cooker and add bay leaf, remaining clove and cinnamon, cardamom...next add chopped onions and fry till they are transparent...then add chopped tomatoes and fry till they are mashed....next add chopped vegetables and fry for few minutes....add mint leaves and the ground paste...fry for another 3 - 4 minutes....add soya chunks, rice and water (2 :1)...allow it to boil...add salt and lime juice...cover and cook till done or close with the lid and cook for one or two whistle...
OR
You can transfer the masala part to the rice cooker...add rice, salt and limejuice and cooke in the rice cooker.