If there is one dish that brings everyone together in an Indian home, it is biryani. This veg biryani recipe is special to me because it comes straight from my grandmother’s kitchen. She always said biryani is not about too many spices — it’s about balance, patience, and love.
This recipe is simple, aromatic, and perfect even if you are making biryani for the first time.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Veg Biryani
- Authentic Indian taste
- Made with simple, everyday ingredients
- Beginner-friendly method
- Light yet rich in aroma
This veg biryani recipe works beautifully for lunch, dinner, or even special occasions.
🥕 Ingredients for Veg Biryani
🍚 For Rice
- Basmati rice – 2 cups
- Water – for soaking
- Salt – as required
🥦 Vegetables
- Carrot – 1 (chopped)
- Beans – 8–10 (chopped)
- Green peas – ½ cup
- Cauliflower – ½ cup
- Potato – 1 (optional)
🌿 Whole Spices
- Bay leaf – 1
- Cinnamon stick – 1
- Green cardamom – 3–4
- Cloves – 4–5
- Cumin seeds – 1 tsp
🌶️ Ground Spices
- Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
- Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
- Garam masala – 1 tsp
- Biryani masala – 1½ tsp
🧄 Other Ingredients
- Oil or ghee – 3 tbsp
- Onion – 2 (thinly sliced)
- Ginger-garlic paste – 1 tbsp
- Green chilli – 2 (chopped)
- Curd (yogurt) – ½ cup
- Mint & coriander leaves – chopped
🍳 How to Make Veg Biryani (Step-by-Step)
🥄 Step 1: Prepare the Rice
Wash and soak basmati rice for 30 minutes. Cook until the rice is 70% done, then drain and keep aside.
My grandmother always said: “Rice should bend, not break.”
🥄 Step 2: Prepare the Masala
Heat oil or ghee in a heavy pan. Add bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and cumin seeds. Let the spices release their aroma.
Add sliced onions and cook until golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste and green chilli. Sauté well.
🥄 Step 3: Add Vegetables & Spices
Add all vegetables, curd, turmeric, red chilli powder, garam masala, and biryani masala. Cook for 5–7 minutes until the vegetables absorb the masala.
🥄 Step 4: Layer & Dum Cook
Spread cooked rice over the vegetable masala. Sprinkle mint, coriander, and fried onions.
Cover and cook on low flame for 10–15 minutes. This slow cooking gives the biryani its signature aroma.
👵 Tips from My Grandmother
- Always cook biryani on low heat
- Use ghee for richer aroma
- Let the biryani rest for 5 minutes before serving
These small tips make a big difference in this veg biryani recipe.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- Boondi raita or plain curd
- Onion salad with lemon
- Papad or pickle
🌟 Final Thoughts
This veg biryani recipe is proof that vegetarian food can be just as flavorful and satisfying. When cooked slowly with patience and love, biryani becomes more than a dish — it becomes a memory.
Try it once, and it might just become a regular in your kitchen.
👉 Share this recipe with your friends ❤️