Easy Vegetarian Biryani Recipe

This easy vegetarian biryani recipe is made on the hob, rather than in the oven as in other meat or vegetable biryani recipes. As it’s not baked, it’s quick to make, yet just as delicious. Being packed with colourful vegetables means this veg biryani is full of goodness, too.

I’ve also added lentils to this quick veg biryani recipe. They don’t take too much time to cook – about as long as the rice, in fact, which is ideal. Lentils are one of my favourite Indian curry ingredients, and they add texture as well as having health benefits. Feel free to omit them if you prefer – you could add peas or chickpeas instead. The ingredients for veg biryani can be adapted to what you like or need to use up.

This simple veg biryani recipe makes a great family meal that is also vegetarian. Ideal food for busy, meatfree Mondays. If you’ve ever wondered how to make vegetarian biryani, this is the way. No oven required.

This easy veg biryani recipe serves 4

Easy vegetarian biryani recipe ingredients

• Olive oil, for frying
• Red onion, 2, sliced thinly
• Cauliflower & broccoli florets, 1 pack
• Sweet potato, 1 large, diced
• Red lentils, 200g
• Vegetable stock, 1 pot or cube, made up with 700ml boiling water
• Curry powder or paste, 1 tsp – 1 tbsp (to taste)
• Mustard seeds, 2 tsp
• Basmati rice, 300g 
• Button mushrooms, a few, quartered
• Dried apricots, 12, chopped
• Lemon, 1, cut into wedges (to serve)

Equipment

• Sharp knife
• Chopping board
• Saucepan
• Wooden spatula

How to make veg biryani

• Heat some oil, then fry the onions, stirring regularly, for a few minutes until nicely caramelised.
• Add the cauliflower, broccoli, sweet potato and lentils and stir well, then add the stock, curry powder and mustard seeds. Simmer for 10 minutes, with the lid on the pan during cooking. This will retain heat and steam, thus helping to cook the lentils.
• Add the rice, mushrooms and apricots. Stir again and cook, stirring regularly, for a further 10-15 minutes, or until the rice and lentils are tender. Add more hot water, if needed, during cooking.

Serve this easy vegetarian biryani recipe with the lemon wedges.

Related recipes:

• Vegan Dhansak
• Chickpea & kidney bean curry
• Bean Makhani
• Lentil dal with paneer
• Paneer Curry

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