The Islamic fasting month of Ramadan is upon us again! This is a time for prayer, reflection, giving charity, and fasting. During Ramadan, fasting includes not only abstaining from food and water, but it also includes abstaining from swearing, gossiping, arguing, etc. During Ramadan fasting is done from sunrise to sunset to teach you patience, discipline, and empathy for others who aren’t as fortunate.
Each day at sunset the fast ends with prayer and then the fast is broken with dates and water. This is followed by a meal called iftar, which usually starts with a first course of soup (traditionally Red Lentil Soup) and then a main course. During Ramadan Mike likes to have substantial meals, usually involving rice. You might remember last year when I made Beef Biryani Stuffed Inside Basmati Rice…this year I’m sharing a different (but equally delicious) form of biryani.
Ramadan Kareem (Generous Ramadan)!
I’m sending this recipe off to Chaya of Sweet and Savory for My Meatless Mondays!
Pilaf-Style Biryani
(Yield: About 10 servings)
4 1/2 TB canola oil, divided
3 c basmati rice
1 bay leaf
2 cloves
1 pod cardamom, crushed
2 medium onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
2 medium carrots, peeled and diced
4 cloves garlic, grated
1-inch piece fresh ginger, grated
1/4 c biryani paste (or more to taste)
2 c frozen peas, thawed
1/2 c fresh minced parsley or 1/3 c fresh minced cilantro
1/2 c unsalted almonds or peanuts
Salt and pepper
Optional Things to Serve With This:
Roasted Spiced Chicken
Cucumber-Yogurt Sauce (Raita)
Soak the rice in cold water for about 10 minutes, then drain (alternatively, you can rinse the rice in a colander with cold water until the water runs clear). In a medium pot with a lid, heat 2 TB of oil over medium heat; add the bay leaf, cloves, and cardamom pod and toast until fragrant (about 1-2 minutes). Add the rice and toast until fragrant (about 2 minutes), then add 1/2 tsp of salt and the amount of water specified on the rice’s package, and cook the rice according to the package directions. When the rice is finished cooking, let it sit with the lid on for about 10 minutes before fluffing.
In a large skillet with a lid, heat 2 TB of oil over medium to medium-high heat. Add the onion, red and green pepper, carrot, and a dash of salt and pepper, and sauté with the lid on (stirring occasionally) for about 12 to 14 minutes, or until the veggies are tender but not browned. (You might need to add a splash of water to the veggies while cooking if the pan gets too dry.) Turn down the heat to medium-low and add the garlic, ginger, biryani paste, and a splash of water; sauté about 2 minutes (stirring constantly) until everything is fragrant. Add the frozen peas and heat another minute or so, just to warm the peas.
In a small skillet, heat the remaining 1/2 TB oil over medium to medium-high heat; add the nuts and sauté until golden (about 3-4 minutes), stirring frequently.
To serve, combine the fluffed rice, cooked veggies, and parsley (or cilantro if using), and top with the toasted nuts. If desired, serve with roasted spiced chicken, cucumber-yogurt sauce (raita), and/or Salad Shirazi.
I want to thank everyone who participated in my recent Walmart giftcard giveaway! It looks like tomatoes, corn, and berries are a few favorites this time of year! I used a random number generator to determine the winner…
A huge congrats to Nicole of Geek Turned Athlete! Please email me your address and I’ll have your giftcard mailed out.
I’m Faith Gorsky, the writer, cook, and photographer behind An Edible Mosaic. My goal is to inspire you to get in the kitchen and try something new! Feel free to 
Mo says
August 15, 2010 at 6:13 amI love biryani! Yours looks delicious. :)
Congratulations to Nicole!
Swathi says
August 15, 2010 at 8:05 amPilaf style biryani looks delicious. Nice one. Congrats to Nicole
Katerina says
August 15, 2010 at 9:03 amMy friend from Nigeria is Muslim and I know much about Ramadan. Your dish looks delicious and exotic. I love it!
Amanda says
August 15, 2010 at 10:21 amMmm, that chicken looks so yummy! Your photos are always so much fun to look at! You do a great job on your blog!
Betty @ scrambled hen fruit says
August 15, 2010 at 10:46 amThis dish looks delicious-it has so many flavors! Congratulations to the card winner!
Jen says
August 15, 2010 at 12:50 pmYour take on biryani looks fantastic! It sounds perfect with the spiced chicken and raita.
grace says
August 15, 2010 at 2:47 pma nicer bed for a hunk of chicken i do not know. :)
deana@lostpastremembered says
August 15, 2010 at 3:03 pmI should make more things like this… yummy recipe and I love raita on anything!
BeadedTail says
August 15, 2010 at 5:03 pmThat does look like a delicious, substantial meal! Yum! Congrats to the winner!
Karyn Bernard (French Charming) says
August 15, 2010 at 5:16 pmYummy…you are making me so hungry right now! Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe and congrats. to Nicole! I have missed you sweet friend, time to come out of the cave and start living life again. Thank you for your friendship…it means more to me than you’ll ever know!
Big hugs,
Karyn
theUngourmet says
August 15, 2010 at 8:20 pmI love this pilaf version! It’s so colorful and pretty. Wow, no water either… I didn’t know this. Congratulations to Nicole. ;0)
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
August 15, 2010 at 8:58 pmhaha Faith, I always have to chuckle how in sync we are. I’m going through a real “rice” phase and there you have it! Happy Ramadan! :D
Sook says
August 15, 2010 at 9:06 pmMmmmm the bariyani looks amazing!
Barbara Bakes says
August 15, 2010 at 10:12 pmThis must smell fabulous while it’s cooking, especially after a day of fasting.
Ameena says
August 15, 2010 at 10:42 pmMy dad and Ali love biryani! It has always intimidated me but you’ve made it look very manageable.
I totally agree Faith…the rest of the year flies by and Ramadan moves as slowly as molasses!
tasteofbeirut says
August 16, 2010 at 4:39 amI love this biryani as most of the rice dishes made with Basmati; Ramadan Moubarak to all your loved ones!
Faith @ lovelyascharged says
August 16, 2010 at 7:13 amThis rice sounds fabulous! I love ethnic foods like this but I never think to make them for myself.
Lazaro says
August 16, 2010 at 8:18 amTwo interesting and lovely recipes. Thanks for introducing me to some new dishes.
Dana says
August 16, 2010 at 8:25 amThis looks really tasty! I have some brown basmati rice at home right now. I may have to use it in this recipe!
Nicole @ Geek Turned Athlete says
August 16, 2010 at 9:34 amThanks again!! Wahoo! More house stuff for us since we just moved!
That biryani looks great and nourishing to get you through the day. Do also participate in Ramadan with your husband?
admin says
August 16, 2010 at 2:57 pmNicole, Yeah, both my hubby and I observe Ramadan. :)
MaryMoh says
August 16, 2010 at 10:31 amWhat a big piece of chicken on top of the briyani! I want the whole plate! :D Looks too tempting :D
Heavenly Housewife says
August 16, 2010 at 11:03 amFirst I scrolled all the way down to see if i was the winner LOL… alas, no.
Lovely briyani recipe. I need to learn to make briyani for my Mr P, it is a real favourite of his, but I have been a bit intimidated by it.
Ramadan Mubarak. Hope your fasts are going well.
*kisses* HH
Mary says
August 16, 2010 at 11:13 amWhat a lovely rice dish. It’s color and the way you’ve photographed it make it hard to resist. I hope you are having a great day. Blessings…Mary
Blond Duck says
August 16, 2010 at 2:22 pmIf someone didn’t let me eat until evening, I would not be a happy duckie.
5 Star Foodie says
August 16, 2010 at 5:00 pmThe biryani and the chicken look just excellent!
Reeni says
August 16, 2010 at 5:13 pmKnowing I had something as delicious as this for me at the end of the day would certainly help me get through it! Seems hearty and comforting.
Juliana says
August 16, 2010 at 6:07 pmFaith, the rice dish looks delicious…what a great meal with the chicken…YUMMIE!
Aimee says
August 16, 2010 at 10:54 pmYum Biryani is probably up there on my list of favorite dishes!
chaya says
August 17, 2010 at 7:40 amI have been trying to learn more about iftar and you just summed it up beautifully. I plan to do some reading but I needed a starting point. Thanks.
This Biryani sounds so very good. I have never made it but with a rice lover, in the house, I should really change that situation.
Mimi says
August 17, 2010 at 10:31 pmI would be tortured waiting for the fast to end so I could have a fork full of this.
Blessing during your holy month.
Mimi
FOODESSA says
August 18, 2010 at 5:58 amFaith…I’ll have to look into Biryani paste at my ethnic grocer…something new for me to try. I can really appreciate all the ingredients that come together for this complex flavoured dish…it must be delicious.
About Ramadan…some key elements would do all of us some good to practice…something to think about ;0)
Ciao Bella,
Claudia
Sara says
August 20, 2010 at 1:13 pmFaith, your pilaf style byriani looks delicious! I will have to try your recipe! Thank you for your sweet comments on my blog!
Cheers,
Sara