Vegetable Biryani and Naan

Hey!  Thanks to all of you who left comments yesterday.  I had no idea most of you were out there!  I will try harder to give better measurements for my recipes but since I hardly ever follow a recipe, it will be an effort to remember.  If you ever need more precise measurements, just email me and I will get back to you.  I am a very private person.  I am surprised I ever started blogging and I can't even remember why I did.  I guess when it comes to the internet, I feel like less is more.  And when it comes to photos, I am photo phobic, I always have been.  Most all my family is dead and have been since I was very young so photos are sad for me and I really don't like them.  So, unless someone drops me on my head and I snap out of this, you will just have to use your imagination. The Blog Tech was flattered to hear he had some fans out there! I told Teddy she had lots of fans too but she just ignored me. I used to travel the world and I made mental notes of different architectural features that I admired.  When I created my gardens, I designed different areas with all of the elements I held in memory.  Now I have everything I want here so I rarely leave.  I hope this answers some of your questions and thanks for reading my blog.  On to the recipe!

I love recipes where you realize you don't have the right ingredients and sub something else and the recipe turns out better.  This was one of them.  I made this naan recipe: 

4 cups all-purpose flour 
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup water
3/4 teaspoon rapid rise yeast
3/4 cup warm milk
1 cup greek yogurt
melted butter for brushing
I was out if yogurt but I had a tub of roasted vegetable Greek yogurt dip and subbed that and it added so much flavor.

Mix this into a ball, cover and let it rise about 45 minutes.

Break pieces off and roll them on a sprinkled surface until they are about 1/2 inch thick.

Cook them in  a very hot skillet that has been brushed with a coating of oil.

Flip after a couple minutes.

Brush with butter and sprinkle with garlic salt.

 Here are the ingredients for the biryani:

  • Basmati rice – 1 and 1/2 cups
  • Chopped onions – 2 cups
  • Tomatoes – 1
  • Vegetables – 2 cups (carrot, beans, peas, potato)
  • Green chilly – 2 (slit)
  • Ginger garlic paste – 1 tbsp
  • Red chilly powder – 1 1/2 tsp
  • Coriander powder – 1 tsp
  • Cumin powder – 1 tsp
  • Biryani masala – 1 tbsp
  • Cinnamon – 1″
  • Cardamom – 2
  • Cloves – 2
  • Small bay leaves – 2
  • Fennel seeds – 1 tsp
  •  3 cups of chicken stock
  • A bunch of finely chopped cilantro
  • Oil – 1 tbsp
  • Ghee or clarified butter – 2 tbsp
  • Salt to taste
Saute' the spices in the oil and ghee for a few minutes until they give off their aroma. Throw in the vegetables, use any combination you like.  Stir around until they begin to soften and are coated with the spices. Add the rice. Add 3 cups of chicken stock, cover and simmer until the rice is cooked through.  Add more stock if needed.  Stir to fluff and add the chopped cilantro.

I always serve this with chutney and pickled lime relish.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I really should make some naan bread, it's so easy especially when I have the wood stove on all day.

I hate being photographed and avoid it as much as I can. I have one though of me in my blog somewhere and it's the same as I have on Fb. and that's quite enough :-)

Have a great day!
Christer.
Anonymous said…
you breads are the best, every recipe I have ever made of yours works perfectly, I have visual of what you look like in my mind, you are eclectic, if not bit eccentric, lol, you are artsy and love unique jewelry and maybe unique clothes ( scarves, tunics, my choices for me too) , lol see I'm creating an image, but what ever your outside maybe I know for certain you are a beautiful woman on the outside and inside with a heart of gold, I'm sorry your family is all gone, but the family you have made are wonderful and the youngest ( Teddy) is a sweet heart!
Jane T. said…
I have been reading your blogs for several months now and love them! I just feel guilty that I havn't commented before.I really admire all the work you do for the homeless shelter. I enjoy your road trips out - its great seeing parts of The States that are unfamiliar to me as I'm one of your English fans,
TARYTERRE said…
One of my favorite recipes is biryani chicken or lamb. I never thought to make it with just vegetables. I love naan too.
brokenteepee said…
I cook that way too and it's hard to remember for making up a recipe!
Dog Trot Farm said…
Hi Joyce, I was curious where your love of cooking came from, if you had attended cooking school...You offer us, your readers, some of the most amazing recipes...I can see the new oven is working great...Have a good weekend, Julie...
Leanne said…
yum - thanks we will try this recipe soon and let you know. I cook like you and my family always ask if we have a new recipe did I follow it he he
Marsha said…
These recipes look great - I especially like your recipes because they are so flavorful (not shy about spicing and emphasizing the right ingredients)! I forgot to tell you that I also greatly enjoy all witch-related content, and your gardens, and, and, and . . .
Everything you make looks fantastic!
I am always digging around in your recipes...
p.s. Packed a bag for PH but he says he is afraid to fly. LOL