1st of all Soak the rice in 3 cups of water for 30 minutes. After the rice has soaked, drain the water using strainer and keep the rice aside.

Heat a pan full of water, add 3 green cardamom, 2 cloves and 3/4 teaspoon salt to it. Let it come to boil.

Add rice into the pan and stir with a spoon.

Cook it on high flame for 5-6mnts without covering it.

Remove the pan from heat and drain the water and keep the cooked rice aside. Now add a teaspoon of ghee to the rice.

Now take a Kadahi/ Wok(I used non-stick one) Add 1.5 tablespoons of ghee in it and keep the flame on medium. Once hot, add 1 sliced onion to it and cook until they turn golden brown and crispy.

It may take around 6 to 7 minutes. Once done, transfer it into a plate and keep it aside.

To the same pan, now add cashews and cook until golden brown, it will take only 1 to 2mnts, once done transfer it into the plate and set aside.

Now in the pan add chopped potato and cook it for 2 minutes until light brown. Transfer it in a plate.

Now add cubed paneer pcs and shallow fry for 1 to 2mnts, once it turns golden transfer it into the plate.

Let's start Making Biryani now

Heat 1.5 tablespoons oil in same kadhahi, now add cumin seeds, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, whole pepper, 3 cardamom and 2 cloves.

Stir and let the spices sizzle for few seconds. Add 1 sliced onion(not the golden one which we fried, use 2nd pending sliced onion) into it and add 3/4 teaspoon salt. Cook for 2 minutes until the raw smell goes away.

Now turn off the gas and add 1/2cup curd into it and whisk till it's all absorbed.

Now turn on the gas again and keep it on medium flame. Now add Boiled Mattar, paneer, Cashews and potato into it and mix thm all.

Now add 2tbs biryani masala and red chili powder to it and mix well. Add 1/4 cup of water into it and give it a boil. Now add cooked rice into it and mix well and keep it on the flame for another 5mnts and cover the kadhai with a lid. After 5 minutes give it a final mix and your biryani is ready.

Now take 1tsp of water and add a pinch of red food colour to it and pour it onto Biryani and give a gentle mix (if using liquid food colour pour 1/2 tsp of it onto the biryani)
Now your Shahi Veg Biryani is ready to serve

Now serve the biryani with Raita or simple curd and top the biryani with those golden onions while serving it(1 sliced onion we fried in the beginning).
Richa Kapoor
Author