Vegan aubergine biryani

Method

1. Make the spice mix by toasting all the ingredients in a dry frying pan for a few minutes, being careful not to let them burn. When cool, whizz or grind into a fine powder.
2. Put the aubergine in a bowl and massage in the coconut oil with a big pinch each of salt and pepper. Set aside.
3. Half-fill a small deep saucepan with vegetable oil for frying the onions. This is quintessential – it could be argued that a biryani is not a biryani without fried onions! Put over a medium heat for about 3 minutes to heat up. Test by dropping in a half-moon of onion; if it rises to the top, your oil is ready to go. Fry the rest of your sliced onions in batches until golden and crisp. Scoop out with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.
4. In a large, lidded pan or casserole dish, add 2 tbsp of the onion oil and heat over a medium heat. Drop in the finely chopped onion and ginger and fry until browning at the edges, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
5. Add 8-12 tsp of the spice mix (depending on how hot or spiced you want your biryani to be), then cook for another minute until everything smells deeply fragrant. Add the tomato purée, stirring so nothing catches the bottom of the pot. Add 2 more tbsp of onion oil and then the aubergine. Cover with the lid and cook over a medium heat for 10 minutes until the aubergine is tender and completely cooked through (test by piercing a few pieces with a fork).
6. Add the plum tomatoes, breaking up the pieces of tomato with the back of a spoon (or go in with your hands). Add a big pinch of salt, the chopped coriander stalks and green chilli. Cover with the lid and cook over a low heat for 15-20 minutes until the oil separates from the tomato and onion masala.
7. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 150°C fan/gas 3½. Rinse the rice until the water runs clear, then put in a pan with 700ml water and some salt. Put the lid on, bring to the boil, simmer for exactly 4 minutes until al dente, then drain. Once the masala is ready, spoon the rice on top. Cover it with the lid.
8. Transfer the covered pot to the oven. It needs 20-30 minutes depending on your oven; after 20 minutes, open the lid and check if the rice is cooked by squeezing it between your fingers. If not, get it back in for the final 10 minutes.
9. When your dish is ready, bring it straight to the table and remove the lid to reveal the biryani (cue oohs and aahs as the smells wafts through your kitchen). Use a wooden spoon to mix the rice and masala together and get your guests to decorate with fried onions and coriander leaves. Serve with lemon or lime wedges and coconut yogurt.