Vegetable Brinji Rice

Birinji or Brinji is basically a mixed vegetable pulao, the difference being that it has coconut and spices ground into it and fried; the rice is then cooked in the spice paste and coconut milk which gives it a creamy flavor.

What you need for Vegetable Brinji rice:

• Basmati rice -1 cup
• Coconut milk -2 glass (1 glass thin and 1 glass thick )
• Onion -2 sliced
• Green chilli - 4
• Ginger garlic paste -1 tbsp
• Tomato -1 pureed
• Carrot -1 chopped
• Beans -8 -chopped
• Peas --1 cup
• Potato -1 chopped
• Soya chunks -1/2 cup boiled
• Mint leaves -few
• Coriander leaves -few
• Whole garam masala -1 each(cinnamon,cardamom,bayleaf,aniseeds,cloves)
• Cashew nut -few
• Raisins -few
• Ghee -2 tbsp
• Saffron -few starnds (optional)
• Salt to taste 

The Preparation method:

• Heat ghee in a pressure cooker.Add whole garam masala .Then add cashews and raisins.Saute for a min.
• Then add onion,ginger-garlic paste,green chilli and salt.Saute till it turn slightly brown.
• Add mint,coriander leaves, tomato puree and mix well.
• Add the chopped vegetables and saute for a while.
• Add rice and coconut milk (if needed little water).
• Cover the pressure cooker and cook till 2 whistles while keeping the flame in medium.
• The rice should be just about cooked when you turn off the flame; it shouldn’t be falling apart since it will cook a little bit more in the residual heat and might turn mushy by the time it is served.
• Cover and keep warm till serving time. Garnish with mint leaves and serve with pachadi /raita (yoghurt salad).
• Tasty Vegetable Brinji rice is ready to served hot with raita.