Instant Pot Vegetable Biryani

The one-pot vegetable-packed biryani dish is flavorful, aromatic, and oh-so-delicious – you’re going to love it.

Vegetable biryani is a classic Indian dish made with a medley of vegetables flavored with yogurt, toasted garam masala, aromatic basmati rice, fresh herbs, and saffron … but we’ve made it vegan.

You can enjoy the restaurant-quality biryani with a wide range of side dishes, such as Boondi raita, in as little as 40 minutes. 

So, let’s dive in and explore everything you need to know about making instant pot vegetable biryani. 

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• One-pot preparation – For this recipe, all you have to do is prepare all the ingredients in one pot. Plus, the layering on the vegetables and rice is achieved in one pot, too – this minimizes the need for tons of dishes and a pile of washing up to do! That’s music to our ears as busy moms!
• Convenience – With this recipe, this vegetable biryani is made using an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker, which creates time-saving and efficient cooking. The traditional biryani-making process is simplified thanks to the handy Instant Pot. 
• Leftover-friendly – When it comes to biryani, it is one of those dishes that tend to taste better the next day. Plus, this Instant Pot recipe provides you with generous portions – making it a great option for leftovers and meal preparation. 
• Textures and flavors – Despite this recipe being simpler, the vegetable recipe retains its authentic textures and flavors. Here, the vegetables and rice are infused with aromatic spices – creating a well-balanced and delicious dish. 

Ingredients For Our Vegan Biryani 

• 3 tablespoons of vegan Milk (or water, if you prefer)
• 1 cup of Basmati Rice long grain, soaked for 20 minutes in 2 cups of water 
• 1 ½ of oil
• 1 pinch Saffron (Kesar) few strands 
• 10 Raisins 
• 10 Cashews 
• 1 teaspoon of Garlic, minced
• ½ large onion, finely sliced, 1.25 cup 
• ¼ cup of plain vegan yogurt, whisked (skip or use plant-based option for vegan alternative)
• 1 teaspoon of Ginger, grated
• ¼ cup Fried Onions, divided (skip for gluten-free or use gluten-free options)
• 2 tablespoons of Mint leaves (Pudina), finely chopped 
• 2 tablespoons Cilantro leaves, finely chopped 
• 1 ¼ cup of water 

Whole Spices

• 4 Cloves (Laung)
• 3 Green Cardamom (Elaichi)
• 1 stick Cinnamon (Dalchini) 1 inch long
• 8 Black Peppercorns 
• 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds (Jeera)
• 1 Bay leaf (Tej Patta)

Vegetables 

• ½ cup of Green Peas, frozen or fresh
• 1 Potato, medium-sized, cut into ¾-inch chunks, about 1 cup
• ½ cup Red bell pepper, sliced, about 1-inch lengthwise 
• 1 cup cauliflower, cut into large florets, about 1.5-2-inches 
• ½ cup Green Beans cut into 1-inch pieces
• ½ cup Carrots, sliced into thin strips 

Ground Spices

• ¼ teaspoon Ground Turmeric (Haldi powder)
• 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder, adjust to taste 
• 1 teaspoon Salt, adjust to taste
• 1 teaspoon Garam Masala

Instructions

1. Thoroughly wash the rice and allow it to soak for 20-30 minutes. 
2. Soak the saffron in vegan milk or water, and set aside. 
3. Set your instant pot to saute mode, and then add the ghee. 
4. Add the whole spices (including cloves, black cumin, black cardamom, green cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, pepper, and bay leaf)
5. Add the onions and saute until golden brown. 
6. Add the garlic and ginger and saute for one minute. 
7. Combine the almonds and cashews. 
8. Add the turmeric, chili powder, and salt and combine well. 
9. Add the chopped vegetables and saute for 1-2 minutes. 
10. Mix in the whisked vegan yogurt. 
11. Spread the vegetables over the IP. Don’t mix the biryani after this stage. 
12. Add the mint leaves and cilantro. Spread them over the vegetables. 
13. Drain any excess water from the soaked rice and add to your instant pot. Spread evenly, and then add the saffron milk. 
14. Gradually add 2 cups of water. This prevents the layers from combining. 
15. Close the lid of your Instant Pot and make sure to seal the vent. Set the IP to pressure cook mode and cook your biryani for 5 minutes. Then, quickly release the pressure of your instant pot. 
16. Then your vegetable biryani is ready to be served! 
17. Enjoy. 

What To Serve with Vegetable Biryani

You can serve Instant Pot vegetable biryani with a variety of accompaniments that can help complement its flavors. Below, we have outlined some popular options: 

• Vegan Raita – This is a vegan yogurt-based side dish that helps balance out an Instant Pot vegetable biryani’s spiciness. It can be made by whisking vegan yogurt with finely chopped herbs and vegetables. 
• Salan – This is a spicy curry that can sometimes be found served alongside vegetable biryani. It is made using a ton of different vegetables. This helps to add an additional layer of moisture and flavor to the recipe. 
• Pappadums – Otherwise known as poppadoms or papads, Pappadums are crispy and thin lentil-based wafers. They can either be fried or roasted and add a crunchy accompaniment to your vegetable biryani. 
• Salad – A simple salad made up of onions, sliced cucumber, tomatoes, and a drizzle of lemon juice and chaat masala adds a refreshing contrast to the vegetable biryanis richness. 
• Mango chutney – Tangy and sweet mango chutney can be served alongside your biryani – adding a sweet contrast to the dish’s flavors. 

Tips To Make The Perfect Vegetable Biryani

• Cut the vegetables that cook quickly into larger pieces, such as the cauliflower. 
• Use high-quality long-grain rice and allow it to soak for around 20 minutes. Long grain is great since it has a great aroma and cooks correctly instead of clumping and sticking together. 
• After adding the vegan yogurt and the vegetables, deglaze the pot. This is important to avoid burning your biryani. 
• Black cumin, otherwise known as shah jeera, provides the dish with a beautiful flavor. That said, if you can’t find it, you can simply opt for regular cumin seeds, too. For an authentic biryani taste, it is best to use all the spices in the recipe. However, if you don’t have access to some of them, you can skip them too. When layering the vegetables for an enhanced flavor, you can sprinkle biryani masala or garam masala over the ingredients, too. 
• Use a high-quality Garam Masala. 
• Don’t let your biryani sit in the pot once it has been cooked since the residual heat can overcook it. Instead, take the liner out of the pot and cover it with a lid. 
• Rising and soaking the rice before use will help remove excess starch. This prevents the rice from becoming too sticky when cooked. Moreover, soaking the rice for approximately 20-30 minutes will enable the grains to cook more evenly and result in a fluffier biryani. Soak the rice is important for an improved texture. 
• Once the vegetables are completely cooked, allow them to rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to combine together and enhances the overall taste. 
• When it comes to layering your vegetables and rice in the Instant Pot, make sure you distribute them evenly. Make sure you aren’t mixing them together. This helps to make sure the rice is cooked evenly and stays fluffy. When adding water, make sure to do this slowly and gradually – you don’t want to mix the layers. 
• Garnish your vegetable biryani generously with fresh herbs, such as mint or cilantro; fried onions; and nuts, such as almonds or cashews. Not only does this improve the visual appeal, but adds some texture and flavor to the dish.
• If you’re looking for a protein-balanced meal, you can serve your biryani with some chicken leg quarters.

Storage Suggestions

• Storage – You can keep leftover biryani in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days when using an airtight container. 
• Freezer – Using a freezer-safe container or a ziplock bag, you can freeze your biryani for up to 2 months. Before storing the rice, make sure it has cooled down to room temperature. 
• Reheating – Add a few tablespoons of water to your biryani before reheating on the stovetop or microwave until it is warm throughout. 

Final Thoughts

Biryani is a delicious Indian dish that can be made in the comfort of your home using a few simple steps, ingredients, and your handy Instant Pot. 

A distinctive feature of biryani is its layers, featuring tons of aromatics and flavors. It is cooked in a specific way so that each layer is infused with goodness. 

This is all made easier with the help of your trust Instant Pot. So, what are you waiting for? Whip up this classic today.