Aloo Biryani

Ingredients

• saffron thread
  ½ teaspoon
• boiling water
  1½ cups
• basmati rice -- or other long-grain rice -- dry measure
  2 cups
• vegetable oil
  2 tablespoons
• cloves
  4 unit
• stick cinnamon
  1 unit
• potatoes -- ½" cubes (about 8 oz/250g)
  2 unit
• chopped mint
  2 tablespoons
• fresh ginger – minced
  1 tablespoon
• plain low-fat yogurt
  ½ cup
• salt
  ¼ teaspoon
• chopped cilantro
  ¼ cup
• onion -- thinly sliced
  1 unit