Vegetable Biryani

I always used to think making Biryani is time consuming and never ever gave it a try. It does involve a lot of patience- cutting the veggies, making the masala, frying the onions. But it was fun doing it and when people appreciate your food it worth the effort you have taken!
You need to follow the recipe to the T, the measurements that I have given below can serve 4-5 people.
Biryani masala- Recipe is given in the masala section 

Ingredients:
2 cups Basmati Rice
1 cup Mixed Vegetable (cauliflower, carrot, french beans)
1/2 cup gms Green Peas
2 medium size potatoes sliced to cover the base of the pot
4 medium Onions (pureed)
Salt to taste
1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
Garam masala- 2 tsp Cinnamon, 4 Cloves, 4 Black Peppercorns, 2 star annise, 2 bay leaves
4 Tomatos (pureed)
1/2 cup Yogurt (curd)
4 tbsp Vegetable Oil
2 tsp Red chilli powder
2 tbs biryani masala
2 medium onions finely sliced (for frying)

Method

1. Wash the basmati rice well before cooking. Drain all the excess water and keep aside for 15-20 minutes. Heat a tsp of veg oil, add the rice, Add 5 cups of boiled water and 1 tsp of salt. Steam the rice till the grains are well cooked. Keep aside for later use.
2. Cut all the vegetables into small cubes/pieces. Heat 2 tsp of oil and add all the vegetables. Partially cook them.  
3. Take 2 tbs of oil in a pan and add the dry spices mentioned above. Stir for about half minute. Then add pureed onion paste and saute them for a minute till oil starts to separate. Add tomato puree. Saute till you get aroma of the spices and oil starts to separarate from the corners. Add salt and red chilli powder and stir well. Let this puree saute for at least 20 minutes. Add 2 tbs of Biryani masala (add it according to the taste) Add the yogurt/Dahi. Heat it for about 10 seconds.
4. Add all the fried vegetables to this sauteed gravy.
5. Take 1 cup of oil and fry the sliced onions till dark brown. Put it on a tissue paper to get rid of excess oil.
6. Start layering the pot. Spread the potatoes at the base and cover the entire pot with potatoes. Add a layer of vegetable gravy. Add few fried onions. Now add a layer of the rice. Once this is done add 2nd layer of the vegetable gravy, fried onions and rice. Put the layer of fried onions on top of the rice. 
7. Place a hard bottom tawa under this pot and steam the pot for 1/2 hour or till you start getting the aromas of the potatoes and biryani being cooked. Serve hot with a boondi raita or curd.

** Adjust the garam masalas in the tempering according to your taste, keeping in mind the spices are already used in biryani masala