Vegetarian Nasi Biryani

Now with this easy-to-follow recipe, anyone can cook up a quick and easy vegetarian Nasi Biryani. Just add vegetarian curry chicken, vegetarian sweet and sour vegetable pickles and few pieces of pappadum.

Preparation: 5 mins Cooking time: 15 mins

Ingredients (serves 2)
° 200g basmati rice or jasmine rice, washed and drained
° 400ml water
° 1 stalk lemon grass, peel off outer layers leaving tender whitish centre, cut out 7.5cm
° 1 thin slice ginger
° 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
° 1 teaspoon vegetarian curry powder or curry powder (meat blend)
° ½ teaspoon salt
° ½ teaspoon sugar (optional)
° ½ teaspoon turmeric powder (optional)

Method
1. Combine all the ingredients into an electric rice cooker, mix well and turn it on.
2. When done, leave the cooked rice to rest, covered, for 5-10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve hot.

Tip
1. Sprinkle a few drops of yellow food colouring on top of cooked rice, if desired.
2. Use 6 cardamoms, 6 cloves, ½ cinnamon stick, 1 bay leaf and 1 tsp ground turmeric to replace curry powder, if desired.
3. Alternatively, microwave pappadum on HIGH for 40-60 seconds, instead of deep frying.
4. Lemon cannot be used as a substitute for the unique flavour of lemon grass.