• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Browse Recipes
    • Latest
    • By Category
  • Indian Vegan Recipes
  • SUBSCRIBE
Holy Cow Vegan
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Latest recipes
  • Browse by category
  • Indian Vegan Recipes
  • Subscribe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ร—

    Home > Indian Vegan Recipes

    Instant Pot Butternut Squash Biryani

    Posted: Nov 29, 2017 ยท Updated: Aug 22, 2021

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    Instant Pot Butternut Squash Biryani - HolyCowVegan.net
    An easy, one-pot, Instant Pot Butternut Squash Biryani that takes just minutes to throw together, taking you from scratch to dinner in 30 minutes flat. Gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, and can be nut-free.
    Photo of Instant Pot Butternut Squash Biryani in a copper pan with cauliflower, onions and cilantro.

    Here's the deal about this Instant Pot Butternut Squash Biryani. As it cooks, it fills up your kitchen and house with the most incredible fragrance you can imagine, making tummies growl. And if you actually have leftovers after dinner, well, you must've done something wrong.

    Overhead shot of Instant Pot Butternut Squash Biryani with onions and cauliflower.

    But seriously, this is a scrumptious, nutritious dish that comes together in just a few minutes. All you do is dump everything into the Instant Pot (it doesn't have to be an Instant Pot-- any electric cooker that lets you saute and cook rice would work just fine), give it all a stir, and let it cook.

    I love butternut squash in biryanis, because there's something about its delicious sweetness that works beautifully with the spicy, salty, tangy notes of a biryani. For more texture and nutrition, you can throw in other veggies. I love cauliflower in here because it cooks to perfect tenderness in the Instant Pot without become even a tad mushy. Just the way I love my cauliflower.

    Green beans, green peas, bell peppers of any color and potatoes would be great in here too.

    I get my butternut squash pre-cut at my neighborhood grocer's, the only veggie I buy pre-cut because it saves a lot of time and, perhaps, my fingers. Needless to say, you'd need to factor in more time if you prepped a butternut squash from scratch.

    Also try my restaurant-style Vegetable Biryani. This traditional and authentic recipe takes just 30 minutes to make and it's delicious!

    Related recipes

    • Vegan Butternut Squash Pasta Bake
    • Homemade Biryani Masala Spice Mix
    • Easy Vegetable Biryani
    • Vegan Egg Biryani, with no eggs
    • Instant Pot Khichdi with Sprouted Mung Beans
    • Instant Pot Vegan Butter "Chicken" with Tofu
    • Instant Pot Vegan Dal Makhani
    • Instant Pot Rajma Curry with Spinach and Potatoes
    • Basic Tomato Onion Sauce for Quick Indian Curries

    Instant Pot Butternut Squash Biryani recipe

    Instant Pot Butternut Squash Biryani in a copper pan with cheesecloth in the background
    Instant Pot Butternut Squash Biryani - HolyCowVegan.net

    Butternut Squash Biryani in an Instant Pot

    An easy, one-pot, Instant Pot Butternut Squash Biryani that takes just minutes to throw together, taking you from scratch to dinner in 30 minutes flat. Gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, and can be nut-free.
    4.84 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian, Soy-free
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: Butternut Squash Biryani
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 20 mins
    Total Time: 30 mins
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 224kcal
    Author: Vaishali ยท Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

    Ingredients 

    • 5 cups butternut squash cut into ยฝ-inch cubes
    • 1 small head cauliflower, separated into florets
    • 1 teaspoon coconut or any vegetable oil
    • 1 teaspoon shahjeera or caraway seeds (Can substitute with regular cumin seeds if unavailable)
    • 2 dry bay leaves
    • 1 teaspoon garlic paste
    • 1 teaspoon ginger paste
    • 2 tablespoon biryani masala
    • ยฝ teaspoon turmeric
    • ยฝ teaspoon cayenne or any red chili pepper powder
    • ยพ cup cashew yogurt
    • ยผ cup fried onions, like French's (optional, but really nice in biryanis)
    • 1 teaspoon dry mint leaves
    • 1 teaspoon dry dill leaves
    • 2 tablespoon cilantro (chopped)
    • 3 cups vegetable stock (can sub with water)
    • 1 ยฝ cups basmati rice
    • Salt and ground black pepper to taste
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Press the saute function on the Instant Pot. Add the shah jeera and the bay leaves and saute for a few seconds. Add the garlic and ginger and saute for 10-15 seconds, then add the butternut squash, cauliflower, fried onions, biryani masala, cayenne, turmeric, cashew yogurt, mint, dill and cilantro. Mix well.
    • Add the vegetable stock, rice, salt and ground black pepper to taste. Stir well.
    • Click on the lid of the Instant Pot and switch to the "rice" cooking function. Once the pressure has released, open and fluff the rice with a fork.
    • Serve hot.

    Recipe notes

    ย 
    • To make the recipe nut-free, use ยพ cup of canned coconut milk mixed with the juice of 1 lemon.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 224kcal | Protein: 5.4g | Fat: 4.2g | Potassium: 504mg | Fiber: 3.9g | Sugar: 3.1g | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1.8mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment and recipe rating below!
    Follow Holy Cow Vegan on Instagram
    « Vegan Eggless Sourdough Challah
    Vegan Gluten-Free White Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie »
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Yummly

    About Vaishali


    Hi! I am so happy you're here. I'm Vaishali, and I've been sharing recipes for delicious vegan food at Holy Cow Vegan since 2007. Every one of the more than 1,000 recipes on this blog has been tried and tested -- and loved -- by my family and I. I hope you will find something here to share with your loved ones. Thanks for stopping by!
    Read more about me here.

    Try these recipes next

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jane

      October 21, 2019 at 8:26 pm

      4 stars
      I'm making this now. The coriander is not in the ingredients list, and I find it unclear whether I should do a natural release or an instant release. Never have made rice in my IP see.
      After reading another comment, I decided to manual release, and I'm glad I did. I didnt have the biryani spice, so I used a tikka masala spice that was just sitting in my cupboard.
      This meal is delicious, thank you. The squash with the biryani is a really nice combination.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        October 22, 2019 at 5:34 pm

        Happy you liked it, Jane!

        Reply
    2. Christine Fisher

      December 27, 2017 at 4:03 pm

      I am having trouble finding biryani masala, is it the same or similar as the garam masala spice? Or do you have a source to buy the correct spice? Thank you, I love your website.

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        December 27, 2017 at 4:14 pm

        Hi Christine, there are plenty of choices on Amazon. I like the Bombay Biryani masala, but you cannot go wrong with the Chicken Biryani masala either. Despite the name, the masalas are all vegan, of course. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply
    3. Anonymous

      November 30, 2017 at 7:01 pm

      hello Vaishali,
      Love that you're posting many Instant pot recipes. Over thanksgiving week, we tried many recipes from your blog; vegan French onion tart, Slab apple pie with salted caramel pecan drizzle, Tikka Masala pot pie with few other entrees. We subbed paneer for Tofu in the tart; it was superb and nothing was left !! Everything turned out excellent; friends and kids enjoyed the meal thoroughly. We celebrated thanksgiving by thanking you for these awesome recipes.

      I'll surely try this biryani soon...

      Until then, thanks and God Bless,
      Meena.

      Reply
    4. Neerali Parag

      November 30, 2017 at 2:48 pm

      Hi Vaishali

      Can you make this in an amc pot and can you halve the recipe?

      Reply

    Leave a comment: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

    Trending recipes

    • Vegan Picadillo Tacos
    • Vegan Zucchini Pasta
    • Chickpea Rice
    • Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff
    • Mexican Tofu with Apricots, Chipotle and Tamarind
    • Vegan Swedish Meatballs

    How to make

    • Dosa Recipe | How to Make Perfect Dosai at Home
    • Easy Mushroom Stock
    • Sambar Powder (Sambar Masala)
    • Roti recipe. How to make the softest Roti/Chapati (step by step with video)
    • Healthy Whole Wheat Vegan Puff Pastry (1/2 the fat)
    • Easy Indian Curry Paste for Restaurant-Style Dishes
    • Vegan Mayo
    • How to Make Curry Powder
    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

    More about me โ†’

    Trending recipes

    • Vegan Muffaletta Casserole
    • Cheezy Vegan Mexican Black Bean Casserole
    • Vegan Indian-Spiced Tofu Casserole
    • Lentil Soup
    • Cauliflower Rice Biryani (Keto + Vegan)
    • Easy Vegetable Curry (One-pot, 30 minutes)

    How to make

    • Vegan Instant Pot Yogurt
    • Air Fryer Tofu
    • Ginger Garlic Paste for Indian Recipes | How to make and store it
    • Garam Masala Recipe
    • How to Make a Sourdough Starter (Easy Step by Step Guide)
    • How to make sauerkraut
    • Gluten Free Sourdough Starter
    • Homemade Biryani Masala Spice Mix

    Footer


    ABOUT HOLYCOWVEGAN

    All Recipes
    Recipe Videos
    About Vaishali
    Privacy Policy

    VEGAN INDIAN RECIPES

    Vegan Dal or Dahl Recipes
    Vegan Curry Recipes
    Indian Vegan Desserts

    VEGAN BAKING RECIPES

    Vegan Bread Recipes
    Vegan Sourdough Recipes
    Vegan Cake Recipes
    Vegan Pie Recipes
    Vegan Cookie Recipes


    As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my full disclosure here.

    ยฉ 2022 Holy Cow Vegan