Mushroom Biryani: A no.1 Vegetarian Delight

Making delicious mushroom biryani at home is not only a delightful culinary adventure, but also a testimony to the versatility of mushrooms as a pulpy and earthy ingredient. In this comprehensive guide, we walk you through the steps to prepare a delicious Mushroom Biryani that will satisfy your taste buds and make you the hero of the kitchen. So, let’s dive into the world of flavor with our Mushroom Biryani recipe!

Introduction to Mushroom Biryani

Mushroom Biryani is a vegetarian rice dish that combines the aromatic spices and rich flavor of traditional Indian biryani with the delicious goodness of mushrooms. This fusion dish provides a satisfying alternative to the classic chicken or mutton biryani, making it an ideal choice for vegetarians and mushroom lovers.

It is a veg Biryani but it will forget the taste of chicken biryani

Ingredients

Before we begin our culinary journey, let’s gather all the ingredients we need for this delicious Mushroom Biryani:

2 cups of Basmati rice
200 grams of fresh mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
2 large onions, thinly sliced
2 tomatoes, finely chopped
2 green chilies, slit
1/2 cup of yogurt
1/4 cup of chopped coriander leaves
1/4 cup of chopped mint leaves
1/4 cup of cooking oil or ghee (clarified butter)
1 teaspoon of cumin seeds
1 bay leaf
4-5 cloves
4-5 green cardamom pods
1-inch cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder
1 teaspoon of red chili powder
1 teaspoon of garam masal
Salt to taste
Water as needed

Step-by-Step Preparation

Step 1: Preparing the Rice

First of all, wash the basmati rice thoroughly and soak it in water for 30 minutes. This helps in obtaining long, distinct grains of rice. After soaking, filter the rice and keep it aside.

Step 2: Roasting the Mushrooms

In a large, deep-bottomed pan, heat oil or ghee on medium flame. Add chopped mushrooms and fry them until they turn golden brown. Remove the mushrooms from the pan and keep aside.

Step 3: Frying the Onions

In the same pan, add chopped onion and fry until transparent and golden brown. It will take about 8-10 minutes. Keep a close eye on them to avoid burning them.

Step 4: Adding Spices and Aromatics

When the onions turn brown, add cumin seeds, bay leaves, cloves, green cardamom pods and cinnamon. Fry for a minute until the spices release their aroma.

Step 5: Adding Tomatoes and Green Chilies

After this add chopped tomatoes and green chillies. Cook till the tomatoes become soft and the oil starts separating from the mixture.

Step 6: Adding Yogurt and Spices

Lower the flame and add curd, turmeric powder, red chilli powder and salt. Mix well and cook for a few minutes till the oil separates again.

Step 7: Layering the Biryani

Now, it’s time to layer our Mushroom Biryani. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, add a layer of cooked rice, followed by a layer of sautéed mushrooms and onion-tomato mixture. Sprinkle some chopped mint and coriander leaves and repeat the process till all the rice and mushroom mixture is over.

Step 8: Dum Cooking

To get the authentic biryani taste, we will cook mushroom biryani without cooking it. Place a tight-fitting lid on the pot and cook on low flame for about 20-25 minutes. This allows the flavors to blend together and the rice to absorb all the aromatic goodness.

Step 9: Garnish and Serve

Finally, open the lid, sprinkle garam masala and fluff the mushroom biryani gently with a fork. Your Mushroom Biryani is ready to serve! Garnish with extra mint and coriander leaves for freshness.