This vegan vegetable biryani is fragrant, flavourful, and perfect for pairing with all your favourite Indian curries! It’s loaded with vegetables, so you can make a meal of it or serve it as a side dish.

Overhead view of two bowls of vegetable biryani with garnishes and forks in background

On the whole, Indian cuisine tends to be very vegan friendly, but there’s a hidden dairy ingredient in many popular dishes: ghee. When I was a vegetarian, I loved vegetable biryani, but now that I’m vegan, I have to forego the restaurant version and make it myself. But that’s okay! Because this vegan vegetable biryani is delicious.

If you haven’t had it before, vegetable biryani is an Indian dish made with rice, vegetables, spices, and herbs. The name is derived from the Persian word “birian,” which means “fried before cooking.” This refers to the way in which the spices and vegetables are cooked together in a pot before adding the rice. The combination of flavours creates a mouthwatering, aromatic one-dish meal that is sure to please everyone at the dinner table. 

To really bring out the flavors in this dish, try using freshly ground spices. This will enhance the flavour of the biryani and give it some authentic Indian flair!

Overhead view of vegetable biryani ingredients with labels

Notes on ingredients

Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

  • Olive oil – You can use vegetable oil or canola oil in place of olive oil.
  • Raw cashew pieces
  • Yellow onions – White onions are fine, too.
  • Garlic 
  • Ginger – Use fresh ginger root, not ground. The flavour is much stronger!
  • Cinnamon stick
  • Cloves
  • Bay leaves
  • Ground coriander
  • Garam masala
  • Cayenne pepper – You can use less for a milder vegetable biryani, or omit it.
  • Star anise
  • Turmeric – Ground turmeric gives biryani its signature golden colour.
  • Green bell pepper
  • Cauliflower florets 
  • Russet potato – You can substitute another potato variety if you’d like.
  • Salt 
  • Peas – Not a fan of peas? Try swapping them out for edamame or chickpeas.
  • Plain unsweetened vegan yogurt – Use store-bought or homemade vegan yogurt.
  • Coconut milk – Use full-fat coconut milk here.
  • Vegetable broth – I use my homemade vegetable broth from veggie scraps.
  • Basmati rice – Rinse this well, until the water runs clear.
  • Cilantro 

How Is Basmati Rice Different from Regular Rice?

Basmati rice is a type of long-grain rice commonly used in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisines. It has a nutty aroma (some say it smells like popcorn!), and when cooked, it becomes light and fluffy. It’s much more flavourful than your standard white or brown rice, so it’s the preferred choice when making vegetable biryani.

Bowl of vegetable biryani with fork, with another bowl of biryani and garnishes in background

How to Make Vegan Vegetable Biryani

Once you’ve gathered all of your ingredients, making vegetable biryani is a breeze! Here’s what you’ll need to do.

Prepare. Warm a teaspoon of oil in a large pot or Dutch oven set over medium heat.

Toast the cashews. Add the cashew pieces to the heated oil and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer the toasted cashews to a small bowl or plate.

Cook the onions, garlic, and ginger. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the pot and add the onions. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until just softened. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for a minute or two, or until fragrant.

Bloom the spices. Add another tablespoon of oil to the pot, along with the cinnamon stick, cloves, bay leaves, coriander, garam masala, cayenne pepper, star anise, and turmeric. Cook for about a minute, or until the spices are fragrant.

Cook the vegetables. Stir the potato, bell pepper, cauliflower, and salt into the pot. Cover and cook for 20 minutes, stirring often. Remove the lid and stir in the peas. If you’re using the vegan yogurt, stir it in at this point and cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the rice. Stir the rice, broth, and coconut milk into the pot. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.

Overhead view of vegetable biryani in pot topped with cashews and cilantro

Finish. Sprinkle the toasted cashews and fresh cilantro over the biryani and serve warm.

Tips for Success

These tips will help you make sure your vegetable biryani turns out perfect!

  • Rinse the rice before cooking it. This will make it less sticky and more fluffy once cooked.
  • Keep a close eye on the spices. Don’t walk away from the stovetop when you’re blooming the spices. You want them toasted and fragrant, not burnt!
  • Don’t turn up the heat. Simmer the rice over low heat and check once in a while to make sure the liquid hasn’t cooked off. Add more broth if needed.

Variations

Vegetable biryani is the kind of versatile dish that can be easily customised to your tastes. Here are a few ideas for changing things up:

  • Use other vegetables such as zucchini, eggplant, or mushrooms.
  • Toss in some chickpeas, tofu, or tempeh for a boost of protein.
  • Add dried fruit like raisins, chopped apricots, or currants for a sweet twist.
Bowl of vegetable biryani with fork, with second bowl in background

Serving Suggestions

I love serving this vegetable biryani as part of a full vegan Indian feast. Serve it alongside:

How to Store

Vegetable biryani can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat it in the microwave, or in a skillet over low heat.

Can This Recipe Be Frozen?

Yes, vegetable biryani can be frozen. Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag and freeze it for up to 3 months. To serve, allow the biryani to thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat according to the instructions above.

Overhead view of vegetable biryani in pot topped with cashews and cilantro

More Vegan Rice Dishes

Enjoy friends! If you make this vegetable biryani, please snap a photo and tag #jessicainthekitchen on Instagram! We’d also love it if you would leave a comment below, and give the recipe a rating! Thanks so much!

Forkful of vegetable biryani held over bowl
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Overhead view of vegetable biryani in bowl

Vegetable Biryani

This vegan vegetable biryani is fragrant, flavourful, and perfect for pairing with all your favourite curries. Customise with any veggies!
5 (from 2 ratings)

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon 4 grams + 2 tablespoon (24 grams) olive oil, divided
  • ¼ cup raw cashew pieces, 55 grams
  • 1 yellow onions, thinly sliced (225 grams)
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic, approximately 6 garlic cloves (32 grams)
  • 2 tablespoons minced ginger, approximately 3 inches fresh ginger root (20 grams)
  • 2 inches of cinnamon stick, 4 grams
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 2 tablespoons ground coriander, 12 grams
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala, 5 grams
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
  • 2 whole star anise
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric, 3 grams
  • 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced (approximately 1 1⁄2 cups or 140 grams)
  • 2 cups cauliflower florets, approximately 230 grams
  • 1 russet potato, peeled cubed (1 1⁄2 cups or 250 grams)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt, 10 grams
  • 1 cup frozen peas, 130 grams
  • ½ cup plain unsweetened vegan yogurt, optional (122 grams)
  • 1 cup canned coconut milk, 220 grams
  • 1 ½ cups vegetable broth, 390 grams
  • 2 cups basmati rice, rinsed (450 grams)
  • Fresh cilantro for topping, optional

Instructions 

  • Place a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat and add 1 teaspoon of oil.
  • Add the cashew pieces to the heated oil and cook for 2 – 3 minutes until golden brown.
  • Remove the cooked cashew pieces from the pot and set aside.
  • Add 1 tablespoon (12 grams) of oil to the pot and add onions. Cook until just softened, approximately 3 – 4 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant for approximately 1 – 2 minutes.
  • Add another tablespoon (12 grams) of oil along with the cinnamon stick, cloves, bay leaves, coriander, garam masala, cayenne pepper, star anise, and turmeric. Cook until fragrant, approximately 1 minute.
  • Add the potato, bell pepper, cauliflower florets, and salt, and stir to combine. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for 20 minutes, stirring often.
  • Remove the lid and stir the peas into the vegetable and spice mixture.
  • Optional step: Stir in the vegan yogurt if preferred and cook for another 2 – 3 minutes.
  • Add the rice, broth, and coconut milk and stir to combine. Bring to a boil then cover the pot with a lid and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 20 minutes.
  • When finished, sprinkle on the cooked cashew pieces and fresh cilantro leaves and serve. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Notes

  • Oil: You can use vegetable oil or canola oil in place of olive oil if preferred.
  • To store: Vegetable biryani can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat it in the microwave, or in a skillet over low heat.
  • To freeze: Transfer the leftovers to an airtight container or zip-top freezer bag and freeze it for up to 3 months. To serve, allow the biryani to thaw in the fridge overnight then reheat according to the instructions above.
Calories: 264kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Sodium: 843mg, Potassium: 573mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 529IU, Vitamin C: 50mg, Calcium: 80mg, Iron: 3mg

Disclaimer: Although jessicainthekitchen.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Jessicainthekitchen.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.