Semiya Briyani (Vermicelli Briyani)

Category: Breakfast / Dinner
Preparation Time: 15 mins  
Cooking Time: Around 30 mins
Servings: 2-3 Servings

Semiya Briyani

Ingredients:

• Semiya/ Vermicelli- 1 1/2 cup (I used the pre-roasted variety)
• Mixed Veggies, finely chopped - 1 1/2-2 cups*
• Onion, thinly sliced - 1 no
• Green chilly, slitted - 1 no (Optional)
• Ginger-Garlic paste - 1 tbsp
• Ripe Tomato, chopped - 1 no
• Mint leaves, chopped - handful
• Coriander leaves, chopped - handful
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Water - Around 2 1/2 - 3 cups
• Roasted Cashews, broken - as needed (Optional)

For Tempering:

• Oil - 1/2 tbsp
• Bay leaf - 1 no
• Cinnamon - 1 small stick
• Cloves - 2 nos
• Cumin / Shah Jeera -1/2 tsp

To Powder: (Can be replaced with Briyani Masala Powder)

• Cinnamon - a small piece
• Cloves - 3 nos
• Cardamom seeds - 4-5 seeds
• Star anise - 1-2 petals
• Fennel seeds - 1/2 tsp
• Mace - a very small strand
• Nutmeg, grated - a pinch
• Red chilly - 1 no

Method:

1. I have used the roasted semiya, if we are using the non-roasted variety, we need to roast them in little ghee till it turns golden brown
2. Add the ingredients mentioned under powdering into a blender and grind it into a fine powder; we can also sieve it if needed
   
3. Heat Oil in a pan, add Bay leaf, Cinnamon, Cloves, Cardamon and Mace strand; fry for 30 secs
   
4. Add the sliced onion with a pinch of salt and saute well until it turns golden brown. If using green chilly we can add now and fry for 1-2 mins
   
5. Add Ginger-Garlic paste and saute until the raw smell goes off
   
6. Add chopped tomato and saute until it turns mushy
   
7. Add in the chopped veggies and saute for 5-6 mins till they get half cooked
   
8. Add chopped coriander and mint leaves and saute for a min
   
9. Add turmeric powder and around 1 tsp of ground powder (We can adjust as per liking and spice level, if making for kids we can reduce the amount to 1 tsp) and saute for 2 mins
   
10. Add around 2 1/2 to 3 cups of water and bring to boil, Add required salt
    
11. Once it starts to boil well, add in the roasted semiya and cook covered in medium flame
    
12. Once the water gets evaporated and semiya gets cooked, give a gentle mix and allow to sit in low flame for 5-6 mins
    
    
    
    
13. Switch it off and garnish with  roasted cashews
    
14. Fluff it up and serve hot!