30-Minute Instant Pot Vegetable Biryani

A steel plate with instant pot biryani, seasoned yogurt and chopped beetroots with more sides placed on a black board.

5 from 1 vote

30-Minute Instant Pot Vegetable Biryani

Fragrant, restaurant-style Vegetable Biryani in just 30 minutes? Yes! This foolproof Instant Pot Biryani recipe uses a simple layering technique for perfect results.

Prep Time20

Cook Time10

Total Time30

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Diet: Vegetarian

Servings:

Calories: 328kcal

Author: Smruti

Ingredients

1 cup basmati rice
1 medium carrot
5-6 green beans
½ medium potato
1 cup cauliflower (florets)
½ cup green peas
1-2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 teaspoon ginger chili paste
1 medium onion (chopped)
½ medium green pepper (chopped)
1½ medium tomatoes (diced)
1¼ cup water
2 bay leaves
3-4 cloves
3-4 peppercorns
1 star anise
½ teaspoon mustard seeds
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon red chili powder
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1½ teaspoon biryani masala
¼ cup yogurt
2 tablespoon ghee
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon lemon juice
4-5 stalks cilantro (to top)

Instructions

Wash and soak the rice in 2 cups of water for 20 minutes.
1 cup basmati rice
In the base of the Instant pot add ghee (or oil). Set the pot to sauté mode. Wait till the display reads Hot.
2 tablespoon ghee
Add mustard seeds, cloves, star anise and peppercorns.
3-4 cloves, 1 star anise , ½ teaspoon mustard seeds , 3-4 peppercorns
Let them pop, then add cumin seeds and bay leaves.
½ teaspoon cumin seeds, 2 bay leaves
Once they are aromatic, add garlic and ginger chili paste. Sauté for a minute.
1-2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon ginger chili paste
Next add the onions and peppers; sauté for a couple of minutes till the onions are soft.
1 medium onion, ½ medium green pepper
Then add in tomatoes and mix well. Cook till the tomatoes are mushy.
1½ medium tomatoes
Whip the yogurt. Add the seasonings and mix well.
1 teaspoon red chili powder , 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, ¼ cup yogurt, 1 teaspoon salt, 1½ teaspoon biryani masala
Add this mix to the instant pot along with ¼ cup water.
0.25 cup water
Mix well and add all the diced vegetables.
1 medium carrot, 5-6 green beans, ½ medium potato, 1 cup cauliflower , ½ cup green peas
Cook for a couple of minutes and add the drained rice and 1 cup water.
1 cup water
Close the lid, set the mode to Pressure Cook. Set the time to 6 minutes and Pressure level to low. Close the lid and set the vent to sealing.
Once the cooking process is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then do a quick release. Open the Instant pot, add cilantro and lime juice.
½ teaspoon lemon juice, 4-5 stalks cilantro
Mix well and serve with some roasted or fried papad, Mixed vegetable raita and salad.

Notes

The 20-Minute Soak Rule: Don't skip the step of soaking the rice, but never over 30 minutes. Soaking them too long will make the grains super fragile and they might mush up while cooking under pressure.

Wash the rice grains well: Rinse the rice till the water runs clear; to remove all the starch and avoiding a clumped up recipe. Also, wash with tap water rather than hot water.

Mastering the "Burn" Warning: After sautéing onions and spices, there is often a "fond" (brown bits) on the bottom. You must add 2 tablespoons of water or broth and scrape the bottom clean with a wooden spatula before adding the rice. Never stir the rice into the bottom. Layer your vegetables, then spread the rice on top, and then pour the water over it. This avoids the "burn" warning.

Fluff the biryani using a fork: The easiest way to get the most fluffy biryani is to fluff the rice with a fork. Do not use a spatula or spoon, it will break the rice grains.

Low Pressure is the Secret: While most recipes call for "High Pressure," cooking Biryani on Low Pressure for 6 minutes with a 10-minute Natural Release (NPR) yields a fluffier texture. High pressure can "explode" the starch in the rice if the water ratio is even slightly off.
Instant Pot: Remember to always account for the time needed for the Instant Pot to come to pressure. The cook time listed does not account for this.

Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates using an automated calculator. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

Nutrition