CRACKED WHEAT VEGETABLE BRIYANI

With the New Year creeping on us, (I still cant believe we are into New Year already), hubby and I have started on a weight-loss plan. We are trying to lose the weight that we have gained after having the babies. The first two years with our babies, we could not think of going to the gym or anything else except caring for the babies. Now that the babies are a little grown up, we have started taking turns to go the gym or go for walks with the kids. We are also trying to cut down our rice intake and including more oats and other wheat in our diet. This recipe came in ideal when we were not in the mood for chapathis one day and this was a hit at my place., so here is my first recipe for 2013, hoping to post more in the future.

Ingredients:
Cracked wheat, 1 cup. (I have used the bigger variety here. This gives a good texture to the dish. Bulgur wheat can also be used here).
Sliced onions, 1 cup.
Chopped tomatoes, ½ cup.
Green chilies 1-2.
Ginger-garlic paste. 1 tablespoon.
Mint leaves, a handful.
Chopped cilantro, 1 tablespoon.
Briyani masala, 1 tablespoon (OR) 1 teaspoon of fennel seeds, 2 cardamom pods, 2 cloves, 2 small cinnamon sticks, 2 bayleaves, 1 star anise.
Chili powder, 1 teaspoon.
Chopped vegetables like green beans, carrots, cauliflower etc all coming around 1 cup. I have pre-cut freezer veggies.
Green peas, a handful.
Ghee 1 tablespoon.

Preparation

Heat a pan with a tablespoon of oil. When the oil is hot, add the seasonings given under briyani masala and fry for a few seconds. Then add the sliced onions and saute for a few minutes until the onions are tender. Now add the chopped tomatoes, green chilies, ginger-garlic paste, chili powder, and salt and keep sauteeing for a couple of minutes until everything is well blended. Now add the vegetables, green peas, and soya nuggets along with the cracked wheat and mix everything well. Transfer the contents to a rice cooker. Add 2 cups of water along with the ghee and mint leaves and cook the briyani until done. Garnish with chopped cilantro and serve hot with raita.

Alternatively cook the briyani in the pressure cooker for 3 whistles up to 10 minutes just like for cooking rice.

This briyani can also be done under stove top. After adding the water, cook closed under low flame until the dish turns dry until the cracked wheat and veggies turn soft.

These are the recipes that I prepared for get-together and potlucks for the New Year. For the potluck at my hubby's office I had prepared bisibelebath and soya kothu curry (recipe coming soon). We also had a get-together at my friend's place and I prepared vegetable briyani and black channa curry. I also prepared some chicken nuggets and fish sticks for the kids  just in case they don't want to eat anything :)