Tofu Biriyani

1. We’re going to start with the rice: wash your rice (seriously), and then in a pot, add 2 cups of water for every cup of rice you’ve used (or if you know how to, use your fingers to measure).
2. Then add three cardamom pods (green and black), bay leaves, and cinnamon. Also, add three cloves and a teaspoon of cumin seeds. You are doing this to make the rice smell amazing and bring out some of the flavour.
3. Salt the water, get it boiling and once it simmers put the lid over the pot and let the rice cook until it is three-quarters done.
4. As the rice is cooking we can now prep our vegetables. By this, I mean chop them. And then, as usual, get a pan with oil over medium heat.
5. Once the oil gets hot, drop in the rest of your dry spices and start toasting them! Release that fragrance into your kitchen!
6. Drop in your chopped carrots and potatoes and season with salt and black pepper. Cover the pan and let these cook through (will take about 5 minutes). Now we’re going to add the ginger-garlic paste, coriander and mint and stir them in. Add your tofu, vegan yoghurt and then your dry powders and stir these in too.
7. Add the rice over your newly-formed biriyani base and then sprinkle in the fried onions and cashews. Stick this pan into the oven for 15 minutes at 200°C/390°F/Gas Mark 6 or until the rice is fully cooked.
8. Get a large wooden spoon, mix the rice and base together and there you have it – delicious tofu biriyani! Garnish with roasted cashew nuts and some crispy fried onions for crunch!

Tip: If you are a beginner, there is nothing wrong with cooking the rice at about 80% in a rice cooker. The last thing you want is the rice to be too soggy when making the biriyani – and I don’t want to put you off cooking!