Vegetable biryani
Richly flavoured with saffron and spices, this fragrant rice dish makes a luxurious vegetarian main dish – or serve other vegetable dishes alongside for an Indian-style feast.
Each serving provides 456kcal, 15g protein, 76g carbohydrate (of which 10g sugars), 8g fat (of which 3g saturates), 9g fibre and 0.2g salt.
Ingredients
- 400g/14oz basmati rice
- 2 tbsp grated fresh root ginger
- 2 tbsp grated garlic
- 2 green chillies, thinly sliced
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
- 200g/7oz Greek-style yoghurt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú fresh coriander, finely chopped, plus extra to garnish
- 20g/¾oz fresh mint leaves, finely chopped, plus extra to garnish
- 300²µ/10½´Ç³ú sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 15mm cubes
- 200g/7oz cooked beetroot, cut into 15mm cubes
- 200g/7oz green beans, cut into 2cm/¾in lengths
- 200g/7oz peas, thawed if frozen
- 1 tsp crushed cardamom seeds
- 2 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 bay leaf
- 200g tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 3 tbsp butter, melted
- 2 tbsp double cream, warmed
- large pinch saffron
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
To serve
- 2 onions, thinly sliced and dried on kitchen paper
- vegetable oil, for frying
- dried rose petals
Method
Rinse the rice in cold water until it runs clear, then soak in water for 25–30 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix the ginger, garlic, chillies and dry spices with the yoghurt, lemon juice, coriander and mint and season well. Blend in a food processor until fairly smooth, then mix with the vegetables and leave to marinate.
Drain the rice and cook in a saucepan of boiling salted water with the cardamom, cumin and bay leaf for 6–8 minutes, or until al dente. Drain well and mix with the chickpeas.
Preheat the oven to 200C /180C Fan/Gas 6.
Mix together the melted butter, cream and saffron in a small bowl.
Put a lidded flameproof casserole dish over a medium–low heat. Tip in the vegetables and their marinade (if the yoghurt is very thick, add a splash of water) and cook for 6–8 minutes, or until starting to soften. Season well. Spoon the rice evenly over the top and pour over the saffron mixture. Cover tightly and bake for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, fill a deep pan a third full of oil and heat until bubbles form around a chopstick dipped into it. (CAUTION: hot oil can be dangerous. Do not leave unattended.) Fry the onions in batches until golden and crisp. Drain on kitchen paper.
Serve the biryani with the crispy onions and scatter over the dried rose petals, coriander and mint.