The Ultimate Veg Shahi Biryani Recipe

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Serves: 4–5 people

Ingredients

• 2 cups basmati rice
• 1 cup mixed vegetables (carrot, beans, peas, cauliflower, potato)
• 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
• ½ cup plain yogurt
• 2 tbsp Zest Shahi Biryani Masala
• 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• 4 tbsp cooking oil or ghee
• 1 tsp Zest red chili powder
• ½ tsp Zest turmeric powder
• 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
• 2 green chilies, slit
• ½ cup fresh coriander leaves, chopped
• ½ cup fresh mint leaves, chopped
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Whole spices: 2 bay leaves, 4 cardamoms, 4 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick
• Saffron strands soaked in 2 tbsp warm milk (optional)

Method

1. Wash and soak rice 30 minutes. Cook 70% done with whole spices. Drain.
2. Fry onions golden. Remove half. Add ginger-garlic paste, tomatoes, yogurt, chili, turmeric, and Zest Shahi Biryani Masala. Cook. Add vegetables and sauté.
3. Layer rice and vegetable masala with herbs, chilies, lemon, fried onions. Top with rice. Add saffron if using.
4. Seal and cook on low 20–25 minutes.
5. Fluff and serve with raita or salad.

Notes / Tips

1. Mix vegetables of your choice like corn, beans, or baby corn.
2. Add a splash of milk with saffron for richer flavour.
3. Sprinkle Zest Garam Masala just before sealing for dum cooking.