Soya Biryani

Today I was feeling very lazy to do anything. Slept for a longer time today and finally woke up and didnt feel like cooking much. Hence decided to go for my usual biryani filled with veggies. For a variation, added soya chunks to the biryani. It turned out good and I was happy that I could include more protein for lunch :)

Soya Biryani 

Prep Time: 2hrs (only because of soaking rice prior)
Cook Time: 30 min
Total Time: 2hrs 30min

Ingredients:

1 cup Basmati Rice
1 cup veggies - I used carrots, beans and capsicum. You can also add potatoes, cauliflower or peas
1/2 cup Soya chunks
1 Big onion
1 green chilly
1 Tomato
1 Teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
1/4 Teaspoon Turmeric
1/2 Teaspoon Chilly Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Garam Masala
1 Cinnamon stick
1 Cardamom 
1 Bay Leaf
Coriander Leaves
Mint (Puthina) Leaves
1 Teaspoon Cumin seeds
3 Teaspoon Curd
1 Teaspoon Oil
Salt

Prepping:

Step 1: Soak Basmati Rice for around 2hrs. 

Step 2: Cut onion, green chilly and all the veggies. 

Step 3: Boil the veggies using pressure cooker for 1 whistle. OR you can use the microwave. I microwaved carrots and capsicum for 3 min, beans for 4 min.

Step 4: Boil the soya chunks adding little water, cardamom, cinnamon and bay leaf till they are cooked. Should take around 10min on medium flame. Squeeze excess water if present after boiling.  

Step 5: Preparing the gravy

• Heat Oil in a pan. Once the oil becomes hot, add cumin seeds and let it crackle. Then add onions and fry till they are brown.
• Add ginger garlic paste and green chilly now and stir for 2 minutes. (Always add green chillies according to the spiciness of the ones you are using) 
• Now add tomato and fry till they are mushy.
• Mix vegetables and fry for 2min. 
• Lower the flame and add turmeric, chilly powder and garam masala. Mix well.
• Add coriander and mint leaves. 
• Now add curd and mix well. Switch off after 2 min. Thick gravy is prepared. 

Method of Preparing:

Step 1: 

Cook Rice till they are 3/4 cooked. Drain water if present after cooking. 

Step 2:

Mix soya chunks and cooked rice. 

Step 3: Layering of the Biryani

• Grease the bottom of the pressure cooker with little oil. You can also use ghee instead of oil. 
• Now add half of the cooked rice and soya.
• Add the gravy.
• Add the remaining cooked rice and soya.
• Sprinkle some water over the top.
• Close the pressure cooker and cook with out whistle for 8 - 10min.
• Open after half an hour and serve with Raitha. 

You can also fry onions till golden brown and cashews till they are brown, in ghee or oil and layer them in between the rice and gravy. 

Sending the recipe to the event "Dish name starts with S" at Akilaskitchen.