One Pot Chickpea Biryani

Here's a simple and flavorful one-pot chickpea biryani recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups basmati rice, soaked for 30 minutes and drained
• 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons oil or ghee
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
• 2-3 green cardamom pods
• 2-3 cloves
• 1-inch cinnamon stick
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to taste)
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• Salt to taste
• Fresh coriander leaves, chopped for garnish
• Fresh mint leaves, chopped for garnish (optional)
• Fried onions (optional, for garnish)
• Saffron strands soaked in warm milk (optional, for color and flavor)

Instructions:

1. Sautéing Spices: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or deep pan, heat oil or ghee over medium heat. Add cumin seeds, cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon stick, and bay leaf. Sauté for a minute until fragrant.

2. Cooking Onions: Add sliced onions and sauté until they turn golden brown.

3. Adding Tomatoes: Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they become soft and mushy.

4. Adding Spices: Add ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, red chili powder, ground coriander, ground cumin, garam masala, and salt. Cook for a few minutes until the spices are well combined and fragrant.

5. Adding Chickpeas: Add the drained and rinsed chickpeas to the pot. Cook for a few minutes to coat the chickpeas with the spice mixture.

6. Adding Yogurt: Stir in the yogurt and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

7. Layering Rice: Spread the soaked and drained rice evenly over the chickpea mixture in the pot.

8. Adding Water: Pour 2 cups of water (adjust as needed based on rice quantity). Bring to a boil.

9. Simmering: Reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid and let it simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the rice is fully cooked and tender. Ensure the rice absorbs all the moisture.

10. Resting: Once done, remove from heat and let it rest, covered, for 5-10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

11. Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh chopped coriander leaves, mint leaves (if using), fried onions (if using), and saffron-soaked milk (if using) for added flavor and color. Serve hot with raita and salad on the side.

Tips:

• You can add a handful of frozen peas or diced carrots for extra vegetables.
• Adjust the spice levels according to your taste preferences.
• Ensure the rice-to-water ratio is appropriate to avoid overcooking or undercooking the rice.
• For a richer flavor, you can use coconut milk instead of water.

Enjoy your one-pot chickpea biryani!