(Image source from: indianexpress.com)

Holi is near and it's time to spend time with your partner or family and friends on the holiday. With some little preparation, you can make a lip-smacking pot pie biryani. Check out the process here:

Ingredients:

To prepare Rice:

1.5 to 1.75 cups – Water
2tbsp – Oil
1 no – Bay leaf
3-4 no – Cloves
4-5 no – Black peppercorns
1 no – Star anise
1 no – Cinnamon stick
4 no – Green cardamoms
2-3 strands of mace
1/2tsp – Caraway seeds
1tsp – Ginger-garlic paste
1tbsp – Chopped coriander
1tbsp – Coriander leaves
1tbsp – Mint leaves
18-20 strands – Saffron
5 to 6 drops lemon juice
1 Large onion sliced
2 large tomatoes sliced
1tbsp – Curd
Salt as per the requirement

For the pie shell:

1tsp – Active dry yeast
1/4tsp – White sugar
1/4 cup – Lukewarm water
2 cups – All-purpose flour, divided
1/2tsp – Salt

For Vegetables:

1 baby eggplant
1 green zucchini
Mixed mushrooms a few
1 yellow zucchini
1 capsicum
1 yellow bell pepper
1 red bell pepper
3 baby corn
3-5 pc French beans

For Curry:

2 bunch coriander
300g – Onions (5 medium onions)
5tbsp – Ghee
1tbsp – Coriander powder
1tbsp – Cumin powder
1tbsp – Garam masala
Salt to taste
2 cups – Water
2tbsp – Cream

Preparation of Rice:

Wash the rice with cold water and soak it for 30 minutes. Heat the oil and add some ghee in the pan which should be run on medium heat. Add spices and fry till you get some nice aroma. Fry the onions till they turn golden yellow. Add some ginger garlic paste and fry till it turns into a thick paste.

Add all the ingredients mentioned for rice above. Cook till the tomatoes turn soft and pulpy. Add the soaked rice and cook for a minute. Add some water and let the rice boil completely. Coveer the pan and leave the pan on a low heat. Cook for 20 minutes and open the lid later. You can stop the flame as per the preparation of the rice.

Preparation of Vegetable:

Cut the vegetables into batons except the eggplant. Cut the eggplant into quarters and fry them till it turns crispy. Roast the vegetables and add some garlic, salt, oil and pepper.

Take another pan and add some ghee. Add onions and coriander bunch. Add cumin and coriander powder, garam masala and cook it well. Cook till the water evaporates.

Assembling:

Put the rice in the pie and top it with vegetables. You can serve the dish with hot nihari sauce. Garnish the rice with mint leaves and with fried onions.

By Siva Kumar