This recipe for Vella biryani is very famous in and around the Coimbatore region. The one thing that comes to mind when someone says vella biryani (white biryani) is the famous biryani from Angannan biryani kadai. Vella biryani is so traditional and unique to our region. The masala is very lite and the biryani itself is very fragrant. I have been fine tuning this recipe for years. Kalpasi (stone flower) and Maratti moggu (kapok buds) is very important for this biryani. Kal pasi has a very rich earthy aroma to it and is very important for this biryani.
Another thing about this biryani is the seeraga samba rice. The short aromatic rice reigns supreme in Kongunad and the regular basmati rice is very rarely used for biryani in this region. Soak the rice in water for 30 minutes. Soaking is an important step that makes for fluffy biryani. Do not forget to soak the rice.
Note: If you cannot source seeraga samba rice, basmati rice can be substituted. For basmati rice, the water ratio is 1 rice:1.5 water.
Here is Vella biryani recipe my style.
The ground masala is what makes for the flavour of the vella biryani.
Grind all the masala ingredients in a mixie with half a cup of water to a smooth paste. Set aside. Add extra chillies if you want a spicy biryani.
Cook the mutton with two cups of water and a teaspoon of salt for 5-6 whistles. I marinated the mutton for 30 minutes with a tablespoon of raw papaya paste to tenderize the meat. This step is optional but yields extremely soft meat. After 5-6 whistles, open the cooker and check for the meat done-ness. If the meat is not tender, cook for 3-4 whistles more. Set aside.
Heat ghee and oil in a pan and add in the cinnamon, bay leaf, maratti moggu and kalpasi. Saute for a minute.
Add in the sliced onions and the chopped garlic. Lots of chopped garlic is used for this biryani. I have used around 10 cloves of chopped garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes more till the onions are soft.
Add in the tomatoes and the ground masala paste.
Now, add in whole green chillies. I added about 10 whole green chillies. The flavour of chillies gives a nice dimension to this biryani. Do not slice. Just whole chillies. You do not want it too spicy. Just the essence. If you want a spicy biryani, have 3-4 chillies sliced and have the rest as whole. Add in the chopped mint leaves and coriander leaves. Fry for a couple of minutes.
Add in the rest of the salt and the mutton along with the mutton water (stock) used for cooking. Measure the water while adding.
Add in the required water (1 rice : 2 water). We have used two cups of rice. We will need four cups of water. (Have the mutton water included in the measurement and add water accordingly.) Let it all come to a boil. Once boiling, add in the soaked and drained seeraga samba rice to the cooker.
NOTE: If you want a really fluffy biryani, use (1 rice : 1.5 water).
Mix well. Cover and cook for exactly two whistles. Switch off the flame and wait for the pressure to release naturally.
Open the cooker and add in a cut banana leaf and cover the cooker and allow it to rest for 10 minutes more. The flavour of banana leaf is unbeatable.
Serve hot!!!!!!!!!
- 500 grams mutton with bone
- 2 cups seeraga samba rice
- 7 Small onions
- 5 green chillies
- 5 cloves garlic
- 1 inch piece ginger
- 4 cloves
- 1 inch piece cinnamon
- 3 cardamom
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1 tablespoon ghee
- 1 tablesoon peanut oil
- 1 inch piece cinnamon
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 maratti moggu (kapok bud)
- 1 tablespoon kalpasi (5-6 small strips)
- 2 onions, sliced
- 10 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tomato, chopped
- 10 whole green chillies
- 10 sprigs of mint, leaves alone
- 5 sprigs of coriander leaves, chopped (stem and all)
- 2 teaspoon salt
- banana leaf to cover rice (optional)
- Cook the mutton with two cups of water and a teaspoon of salt for 5-6 whistles. Set aside
- Grind all the masala ingredients in a mixie with half a cup of water to a smooth paste. Set aside.
- Soak the seeraga samba rice in water for 30 minutes.
- Heat ghee and oil in a pan and add in the cinnamon, bay leaf, maratti moggu and kalpasi. Saute for a minute.
- Add in the sliced onions and the chopped garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes more till the onions are soft.
- Add in the tomatoes and the ground masala paste.
- Add in the whole green chillies, chopped mint leaves and coriander leaves. Fry for a couple of minutes.
- Add in the rest of the salt and the mutton along with the mutton water (stock) used for cooking.
- Add in the required water (1 rice : 2 water). Take the mutton stock included during measurement of water. Let it all come to a boil. Once boiling, add in the soaked and drained seeraga samba rice to the cooker.
- Mix well. Cover and cook for exactly two whistles. Switch off the flame and wait for the pressure to release naturally.
- Open the cooker and add in a cut banana leaf and cover the cooker and allow it to rest for 10 minutes more.
- Serve hot!
Mohan says
February 15, 2019 at 5:04 pmI need mutton kola urundai gravy Kongunadu traditional type.
Amba says
February 6, 2019 at 7:36 pmHi. I’m a huge fan of your recipes! Just downloaded your app – its awesome! I have a hawkins futura – how would I translate whistles into time for that, for this recipe, do you have any suggestions?
RajC says
January 20, 2019 at 1:45 pmA recipe to be treasured, thanks for this recipe. The flavor brings back lots of memories of Angannan kadai. Tried out with chicken, added a little bit of coconut milk and it came out just perfect. Next time will try with mutton and will get hold of a banana leaf 😊
Suguna Vinodh says
January 20, 2019 at 9:43 pmThank you very much! Glad you liked it!
Nalina saravanan says
September 21, 2018 at 4:22 pmGreat receipe Suguna !! I take a pride in my cooking and is always appreciated by my friends and family for this skill of mine . This receipe has enhanced my biriyani and thank you for sharing this receipe .
Dent says
August 28, 2018 at 8:37 pmAlthough I visit a couple of food blogs once in a while, I always come to yours for biryani recipes.. I tried this one and it filled the house with a nice fragrance and tasted delicious.. i had also tried thala Ajith style biryani and that was a keeper as well.. !
Mamta says
July 26, 2018 at 1:30 amThanks a ton for this wonderful recipie. Tried it today for dinner. Is very delicious and light.
Latha says
July 23, 2018 at 1:23 amHi dear
Please clarify one cup rice equals how much Granms of rice
Sanju says
July 10, 2018 at 8:03 pmHi. I will definitely try this biriyani coz my husband every time talks about angannan biriyani. But if I am using chicken what changes should I make. Please tell me
Nirmala. says
May 6, 2018 at 1:29 pmI found this recipe super awesome. It is my family’s fav. thanks for sharing. looking forward!
Nirmala.
Suguna Vinodh says
May 6, 2018 at 9:12 pmThank you!
Aju says
April 23, 2018 at 9:33 pmMam you know Coimbatore beriyani side dish kachar
Sandra says
April 15, 2018 at 1:05 pmThis is an awesome recipe…I’m making it today for lunch again.
Suguna Vinodh says
April 15, 2018 at 9:23 pmThank you!
Diya says
February 27, 2018 at 1:28 amTried this as well as your Thalappakatti Biryani .. both came out super delicious .. I am totally new to cooking Biryanis and had flopped several times , but when I tried these two biryanis following your instructions, it came out so well.. that last 20 minutes tip is so useful to get fluffy Biryani .. your blog is so easy to follow . The small small tips you give are so useful .. thank you 🙂
Suguna Vinodh says
February 27, 2018 at 7:46 pmThank you Diya. Really glad you like the recipes.
Baskar Pandiaraj says
November 15, 2017 at 2:05 amIt’s a Treasure Recipe. Very well done.
Suguna Vinodh says
November 15, 2017 at 12:47 pmThank you!
Krishnamysore says
September 25, 2017 at 3:46 pmNice recipe signs giving a good recipe I tried it yesterday awesome can we use coconut milk
Suguna Vinodh says
September 26, 2017 at 2:49 pmSure. You can.
Karun says
August 27, 2017 at 9:48 pmThank you for this excellent recipe. Reminds us of angannan biriyani and it was perfect!!!
Suguna Vinodh says
August 28, 2017 at 8:23 pmThank you Karun!
Manju says
July 31, 2017 at 12:26 amHi mam
Tried this recipe and it came out very well.all my family members said it is the best. Tried many of ur recipes and everything came very well..always got appreciation for ur recipes:)
Suguna Vinodh says
July 31, 2017 at 2:25 amThank you so much!
SP says
July 29, 2017 at 1:03 amI tried this recipe and per my family this is the best biryani they ever had.
Suguna Vinodh says
July 29, 2017 at 11:49 pmThank you so much. Really glad that you liked the recipe. Happy cooking!
Gangapriyadarshini says
July 22, 2017 at 1:03 pmThank u so much for this recipe. It came very nice
Suguna Vinodh says
July 24, 2017 at 2:10 pmGlad you liked the recipe. Happy Cooking!
Senthilkumar says
July 12, 2017 at 11:39 amMadam cooking for two whistles in medium flame or high flame?
Suguna Vinodh says
July 12, 2017 at 9:20 pmmedium flame always for biryani!
Senthilkumar says
July 13, 2017 at 3:50 pmThank you mam
Senthilkumar says
July 14, 2017 at 9:29 amMam
I am using induction stove
Kindly tell me the temperature. Or Watts. Setting to cook biriyani
Deepak A says
July 9, 2017 at 1:50 pmsuperb recipe!! can i use the same style for nattukozhi biryani too?
Suguna Vinodh says
July 9, 2017 at 5:03 pmSure!
Lalitha says
June 13, 2017 at 2:09 pmAkkaa Semma semma ka.. Finally chefs magical hand is shown.. Lots of kisses to your magical hands ka. Akka thanks a lot for taking lots of effort in teaching us the best n yummy recipes ka… Vella biryani is yummy o yummy ka. With lotts of love.
Suguna Vinodh says
June 16, 2017 at 2:15 pmThank you so much.
Raghavendra says
June 13, 2017 at 2:51 amAm following your blog for quite a long time…All your recipes are awesome..loved your thalapakatti biriyani recipe especially,it came so nice when tried…keep rocking as always….all the best
Suguna Vinodh says
June 16, 2017 at 2:15 pmThank you