Mushroom Dum Biryani

 Who said only non-vegetarians can enjoy hyderabadi dum biryani...heres my love to vegetarian friends...the dum mushroom biryani...

Hi friends,today I have a yummy treat for you..the MUSHROOM BIRYANI…this was requested by  gayatri  and other sweethearts from the sneekpeak pics…I chose to post this dish first among all because this is special to me because this is not a copy-paste type one copied from internet,this is the one I kind of customised to self by changing many things and adapted it to my taste and convenience.I had two problems with the recipes on net  1.most of them did not cook the mushrooms first and my friends didn’t want the o mushroom smell in the dish 2.nearly all of the recipes told to do curry and rice separately and mix them which sounded more like routine rice-curry mix  than special biryani and being hyderabadi I want to give it dum ka.so with out further adue here is the delight for my special special buddies:

Difficulty level: normal

Time for preparation: 45-60 min

Serves:2-3 persons

 Ingrediants:

For marinade:                                                                                     

250gms Mushrooms sliced                                                               

1.5 cup curd/yogurt                                                                            

2 spoons ginger garlic paste                                                              

1 spoon chilli powder

 1 spoon coriander powder

 ½ spoon turmeric powder  

 1 spoon cumin powder                                                                   

  ½ spoon garam masala  

 salt                                                                                                                                      

For rice:

500 gms Indian Basmati rice

2 tbsp ghee/oil(you can cut it down)

2 bayleaves,  2 cloves ,2 green cardamom

1 cinnamon stick, 1 mace

food colour/ saffron(optional)

Seasoning:

½ tsp jeera(cumin) seeds

1 big onion slice

1 tomato chopped

Juice of ½ lemon                                                                                   

Coriander leaves,mint(optional)

Fried onion(optional)to taste

                                                                                                 

 Preparation:

1.  Cut the mushrooms into slices if they are big or you can use the small button mushrooms without cuting(they would look pretty na )

2.  In a bowl,To the sliced mushroom pieces add all the marinade ingrediants and set it aside for 30-40 min.check the salt

3.  For more flavourful rice: Take the deep biryani pan and add she some ghee to it.Then add the biryani spices listed above and saute for 1 min and then add rice to it.now add 1 spoon salt and pour water and cook till the rice is HALF DONE(50% done).i.e remove when the rice starts to splutter out or kind of start dancing..hehe and now strain the water out and let the rice cool.take care so that rice wont become sticky by spreading it if possible on a plastic cover or some cloth.

Quick method: add rice to boiling water and cook till half done and then strain the remaining water and allow the rice to cool.

4.  Take a wide pan and add some ghee/oil.to the hot oil add a tsp of cumin seeds .when they crackle add the sliced onions,1 tsp salt and fry till golden brown(!!)

5.  To this add the marinated mushrooms and cook till done. This frying of mushrooms will remove their stupid smell and add flavour to them.dont add any water since the curd we added will make enough gravy.

6.  Giving THE Dum: Take a heavy bottomed pan and add generous oil .this will prevent the buring of biryani(really!!).now arrange the layers as you wish mine were fron botton to top:

Oil-mushroom gravy-rice-some mint-fried onions-mushroom gravy-rice-coriander-food colour mixed with lemon juice.  Sprinkle some oil over to keep the rice non-sticky and separate.(yes!i m a nerd)

7.  Cover the lid tighly and cook it on a low flame for 15-25 mins and tada!!!the mushroom dum biryani is ready and yes you made it all by yourself….

I m sure you will get it right because if I(I never stepped into kitchen for 20 yrs of my life)can do it,you sure can do it…pukkaaaa!!!

I hope this will be helpful to you and plz  me know how it turned out and ya any tips and suggestions are most welcome….ty guys I had good time writing this…

 xoxo

  pav