For garnishing: Fried onion rings

Method: Clean, wash and soak rice for 1/2 an hour. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan and fry onions, ginger and garlic till golden brown. Add cumin seeds, black cardamom, bay leaves and cloves, fry for a while. Add salt, red chili powder, tomatoes and beaten curd, fry for 3-4 minutes. Wash, clean and cut vegetables. Add vegetables to fried masala, cover and cook till vegetables are tender. Boil rice and divide them into 3 equal portions. Take a heavy bottomed pan. Spread 1/3rd of boiled rice, then a layer of vegetables. Again spread 1/3rd rice and a layer of vegetables and finally spread the last layer of rice. Pour melted butter on top. Dissolve saffron in milk and sprinkle on top of rice. Cover the rice with a
tight fitting lid and place it on a hot griddle for 15-20 minutes over low flame. Garnished it with fried onion. When done serve hot.

Serves: 8-10

Preparation time: 1 hour