Veggie Biryani

I mentioned this as a side dish, and don't know why I didn't just post it. You may have had a biryani at an Indian restaurant before -- it's usually a meat dish in Punjabi food. My IL's are Gujarati, so they are vegetarian.

Rice (jasmin or basmati) - about 1.5 c

cook it and set aside

canola oil - about 2 T
cumin seed - about 1 t
2 bay leaves
medium onion, chopped
1/2 to whole bag frozen mixed veggies
1 can potatoes (the ONLY thing I use them in .. they work really well) drain and chop up
salt
1/2 t tumeric
1 to 2 t garham masala

heat oil, add cumin seeds & bay leaf, cook until seeds start to pop. Add onion, cook until soft, then add veggies. Lightly season w/salt, tumeric and garham masala. Add rice, mix well so rice is coated w/spices and veggies. Just cook through. I usually make this earlier, put in 9x13 pan and toss it in the oven to reheat before serving.

What type of veggies? Should I go for the more ethnic kind found at TJ?
And do Indian's eat soy beans?

when I make it I just use a plain ol' bag of mixed veggies from the supermarket: carrots, peas, corn -- I think some lima beans sneak in there. The exotic flavor comes from the spices, not the veggies, although you could use what you'd like.

If you have a TJ's (and I'm jealous), they also have some great sauces for Indian food. I remember the Masala Simmer Sauce specifically. Literally brown some chicken, dump the sauce, and leave to simmer. Very easy - and very disaster avoidable. If I remember correctly I dumped in a can of garbanzos.

I'll check it out