Simple Vegetable Biryani (No onion No Garlic)
Biryani is a mixed rice dish, where in the rice and meat is cooked separately and later on layered and cooked together. Biryani is said to be bought by the mughals in India. Traditionally Biryani has to have some meat with it, and the type of meat can vary. But as is common in dishes with the Indian Subcontinent, vegetables are also being used in preparing biryani and is known as Vegetable Biryani.
The main difference between a Biryani and Pulao/pulav is that in Pulav the meat or vegetables is cooked along with the rice and is generally made as a one pot meal. Whereas in a biryani they are cooked seperately and then layered and cooked together. A lot more and stronger spices goes in Biryani as compared to pulao. Also pulao is generally a secondary accompaniment to a larger meal.

Coming to why I am writing all this, as you already know that I am participating in this Biryani/Pulav/Khichdi festival. So when I was initially preparing the list, I had shortlisted almost all the Biryani's to make. But they are a bit time consuming to make and secondly it would have difficult to eat so much of rice for us :-). So slowly my whole list changed and I focussed on one pot healthy meals using millets and khichdi's.
Slowly I would be adding all the biryani's to my blog, I targeted to make for this festival.
This is my version of Simple Vegetable Biryani, nothing fancy and it is quick to assemble. I do not have a fix recipe for this. I just add in whatever I have in my fridge. I prefer carrots, potatoes, green peas, cauliflower as the main in Vegetable's in a Vegetable Biryani. Reason being it adds a nice crunch to the Biryani.

Typically in a Biryani the vegetables are fried, but I skip this step to reduce the extra oil and fat. You can fry them if you wish too. I have not added any Biryani masala too as I like to have the flavours from the whole aka khada masalas. However I do add my mom's Garam masala, which is strong and adds a kick to the recipe. The vegetables are sort of marinated in yogurt and spice mix to give them extra flavour.
So here goes the recipe.
Ingredients
Ingredients for cooking Rice
- 2 Cup Basmati Rice
- 2-3 Cloves (Long)
- ½ inch Cinnamon (Dalchini)
- 1 Black cardamom
- 2-3 Bay leaf (Tejpatta)
For Biryani Masala
- 2 Tablespoon oil
- 1 Small piece of mace (Javitri)
- 1 teaspoon Jeera (Cumin seeds)
- ½ inch cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Gluten Free Asafoetida (Hing) **Please see Notes
- 2 teaspoon Garam Masala
- 1 teaspoon Red chilly powder
- Salt to taste
- ½ Cup Cauliflower Florets
- ½ Cup Green Peppers Cubed
- ½ Cup Carrots cubed into small pieces
- ½ Cup green beans chopped
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Paste
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Paste (Optional if you do not eat)
- ¼ Cup Coriander chopped
- ¼ Cup Yogurt
- Salt to taste
For Layering Biryani
- a generous pinch of Kesar(Saffron) soaked in ¼ cup of lukewarm milk.
- 1 tablespoon Ghee/Clarified Butter
Instructions
Cooking Rice
- Rinse and soak the rice for at least 30 minutes.
- In a large pot add enough water, 7-8 cups of water.
- Add all the whole spices mentioned under the heading "Ingredients for cooking Rice".
- You can use a muslin cloth and make a potli as well as explained in my earlier post on Awadhi Vegetable Biryani.
- Once the water starts boiling, add the rice.
- Let the rice cook till 85 % done.
- Drain and keep it aside.
Biryani Masala
- In a pan add in the oil.
- Once hot, add Jeera.
- Once it splutters add the remaining whole spices mentioned under Biryani Masala.
- Now add the ginger and garlic paste.
- Add in the chopped vegetables and Coriander.
- Add the yogurt and let this mixture cook for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are half done.
Layering of Biryani
- In a heavy bottom pan add in 2 tablespoon of masala and spread it.
- Top it up with half of the cooked rice.
- Now spread a tablespoon of Ghee on it.
- Then add half of the vegetables.
- Now add the remaining vegetables, cashews and ghee.
- Sprinkle the saffron milk mixture on top of this.
- Cover and seal the lid with the dough.
- Let this cook on dum (Min) or steam cook for 20-25 minutes.
- Serve it with some spicy gravy or yogurt on the side.
Notes
- Asafoetida (Hing) powder available in shops contains wheat and is not gluten free. Gluten intolerant people can either skip completely or opt for Gluten Free Asafoetida (Hing)

Rice recipes on my blog: :
- Carrot and Peas Pulao
- Tamarind Rice
- Kashmiri Pulao
- Mumbai Style Tawa Pulao
- Veg Fried Rice (Without Ajinomoto)
- Veg Schezwan Fried Rice
- Rajasthani Gatta Pulao
- Awadhi Vegetable Biryani

Simple Vegetable Biryani (No onion No Garlic)
Ingredients
Ingredients for cooking Rice
- 2 Cup Basmati Rice
- 2-3 Cloves Long
- ½ inch Cinnamon Dalchini
- 1 Black cardamom
- 2-3 Bay leaf Tejpatta
For Biryani Masala
- 2 Tablespoon oil
- 1 Small piece of mace Javitri
- 1 teaspoon Jeera Cumin seeds
- ½ inch cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Gluten Free Asafoetida (Hing) **Please seee Notes
- 2 teaspoon Garam Masala
- 1 teaspoon Red chilly powder
- Salt
- ½ Cup Cauliflower Florets
- ½ Cup Green Peppers Cubed
- ½ Cup Carrots cubed into small pieces
- ½ Cup green beans chopped
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Paste
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Paste Optional if you do not eat
- ¼ Cup Yogurt
- Salt
For Layering Biryani
- a generous pinch of Kesar Saffron soaked in ¼ cup of lukewarm milk.
- 1 tablespoon Ghee/Clarified Butter
Instructions
Cooking Rice
- Rinse and soak the rice for at least 30 minutes.
- In a large pot add enough water, 7-8 cups of water.
- Add all the whole spices mentioned under the heading "Ingredients for cooking Rice".
- You can use a muslin cloth and make a potli as well as explained in my earlier post on Awadhi Vegetable Biryani.
- Once the water starts boiling, add the rice.
- Let the rice cook till 85 % done.
- Drain and keep it aside.
Biryani Masala
- In a pan add in the oil.
- Once hot, add Jeera.
- Once it splutters add the remaining whole spices mentioned under Biryani Masala.
- Now add the ginger and garlic paste.
- Add in the chopped vegetables and Coriander.
- Add the yogurt and let this mixture cook for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are half done.
Layering of Biryani
- In a heavy bottom pan add in 2 tablespoon of masala and spread it.
- Top it up with half of the cooked rice.
- Now spread a tablespoon of Ghee on it.
- Then add half of the vegetables.
- Now add the remaining vegetables, cashews and ghee.
- Sprinkle the saffron milk mixture on top of this.
- Cover and seal the lid with the dough.
- Let this cook on dum (Min) or steam cook for 20-25 minutes.
- Serve it with some spicy gravy or yogurt on the side.
Notes
- Asafoetida (Hing) powder available in shops contains wheat and is not gluten free. Gluten intolerant people can either skip completely or opt for Gluten Free Asafoetida (Hing)
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The no onion version of veg biryani looks so tempting. Simple veg biryani is one of my favorite which I cook regularly.
Love your vegetable biryani. Though you call it simple by skipping onions, almost all vegetarian versions of the classic recipes sound similar and take the same time and effort. 🙂
I have never attempted a no onion no garlic version in the biryani..but this seriously looks yummy..
I usually make this version of biryani without onion and garlic but never thought to showcase it 🙂 I love the flavors here
Wonderful ! The Biryani masala sounds delicious and very flavourful . I have never used mace in any masala , need to check this out .
The Biryani can never be simple , but yes when you are used to so much cooking it does sound simple . The Dum method of sealing with dough gives the Biryani a wonderful aroma and taste .
If its something that makes me sweat is to think of no onion dishes, its really very hard for me. so this is a fantastic one..:)
Thank you, At my mom's place onion and garlic is not used at all 🙂
Biryani without onion and garlic is very hard to make. Love your version of layered biryani. This time I made all my biryanis and pulavs in a pressure cooker or instant pot. I think its all pulavs then 😉
such a quick and nutritious dish this is ! I love the no-onion-garlic version these days.. (actually when I am too lazy to chop them :p)
No-onion and no-garlic Biryani sounds a wonderful idea for the festivals when no onion and no garlic dishes are eaten for for serving to guests who avoid onion and garlic. Sealing with dough infuses all the flavours so well in a biryani. Lovely share.
Wow. I tried this recipe and it is sooo tasty. Im always restricted bro and nion and garlic. I loved making this dish. It's wonderful, especially the rice turned out very very tasty. This is a must try recipe it was yummy
Thank You so much. Glad you liked it