Taste of Heaven - Mushroom and Carrots Biryani

Ingredients

• 15-20 medium fresh button mushrooms, washed, drained and cut into quarters (You may also use the canned ones if you can't get fresh)
• 1 1/2 cups basmati rice, washed
• 1 carrot
• 2 medium onions, peeled and finely sliced
• 1 inch ginger, peeled
• 5 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1/4 cup fresh coriander leaves or cilantro, washed and finely chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, washed and finely chopped
• 2 medium fresh tomatoes, washed and chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/8 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 4 cloves
• 2 green cardamoms
• 2 black cardamom pods (optional)
• 1 inch cinnamon stick
• salt
• 2 teaspoons oil
• 2 teaspoons red chili powder
• 1 tablespoon coriander powder
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1/4 cup skim milk
• 1/4 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 4-5 drops kewra essence (optional)
• 1 pinch saffron

Directions

1. 1

   Cut mushrooms into quarters and keep aside.

2. 2

   Chop the carrot into 1/2 inch pieces and keep aside.

3. 3

   Soak rice in 4 cups of water.

4. 4

   Keep aside for 30 minutes.

5. 5

   Drain and keep aside.

6. 6

   Slice onions and keep aside.

7. 7

   Grind together the ginger and garlic, adding water as required, to get a fine paste.

8. 8

   Wash and finely chop coriander and mint leaves.

9. 9

   Puree the chopped tomatoes in a blender.

10. 10

    Whisk the yoghurt and keep aside.

11. 11

    Soak saffron in 1/4 cup warm skimmed milk and keep aside.

12. 12

    Boil 4 cups of water in a thick-bottomed vessel.

13. 13

    Add bay leaf, cloves, green cardamoms, black cardamoms, cinnamon, sugar and 1 teaspoons.

14. 14

    salt.

15. 15

    Add rice when the water starts boiling rapidly.

16. 16

    Cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the rice is 3/4ths done.

17. 17

    Drain in a colander.

18. 18

    Heat oil in a non-stick pan.

19. 19

    Add onions.

20. 20

    Stir-fry over high flame for 3 minutes or until the onions turn translucent.

21. 21

    Add ginger-garlic paste and cook briefly.

22. 22

    Add red chili powder, coriander powder, cayenne pepper, cumin powder and turmeric powder.

23. 23

    Stir-fry briefly.

24. 24

    Add the pureed tomatoes.

25. 25

    Cook over high flame for another 3 minutes, stirring continuously or until the masala is very thick.

26. 26

    Add the whisked yoghurt, garam masala powder and half the quantity of chopped fresh coriander and mint leaves.

27. 27

    Stir well.

28. 28

    Cook for 2 more minutes.

29. 29

    Add mushrooms, carrots and salt to taste.

30. 30

    Stir-fry over high flame for 3 minutes.

31. 31

    Remove from heat.

32. 32

    Arrange the cooked rice and mushroom masala in alternate layers in an oven-proof dish or biryani vessel.

33. 33

    Sprinkle chopped fresh coriander and mint leaves, kewra water and the skimmed milk with saffron on top.

34. 34

    Ensure that the topmost layer is of rice.

35. 35

    Cover the biryani with a tight-fitting lid.

36. 36

    Seal the edges with kneaded atta (flour) dough (if required).

37. 37

    Place the dish on a flat bottomed pan.

38. 38

    Cook on low flame for 10 minutes.

39. 39

    Place a few burning charcoals on the lid.

40. 40

    Alternatively, cook in a pre-heated oven at 180C for 10 minutes.

41. 41

    Break open the seal.

42. 42

    Grab a spoon and serve this biryani immediately.

43. 43

    ENJOY this with a raita of your choice.

44. 44

    I like it with a cucumber raita.