Mushroom Biryani

Mushroom biryani.. The easiest and tastiest biryani i ever had.. I always wanted to make this, but never tried to attempt it as i was not sure of the outcome.. I saw many recipes online for the same, but nothing satisfied me or tempted me to try out one, until i came across one of my neighbour who made it very frequently.. I had to ask her for the recipe and finally try it out.. Trust me, I never believed it would come out so well and taste so good.. Now this will always be on my frequent list of recipes to be made..

Ingredients:

For the paste

1 mace (javitri)

2 laung

2 big elaichi

2 small elaichi

1 tej patta

1 medium onion

1tbsp ginger garlic paste

1tsp red chilli powder

For biryani

3tbsp oil

1 tejpatta

2 laung

2 small elaichi

1/2 tsp shah jeera

2 onions long chopped

3 green chillies slit lengthwise

2 tomatoes grinded

Salt

1tsp garam masala

1 pack ie 200gms mushrooms quartered (12-15 mushrooms)

1 cup basmati rice soaked in water for 20mins and drained

1 bunch coriander chopped

Method: To make the paste, grind all the spices to fine powder first. Then add onion, ginger garlic paste and red chilli powder and grind again to a smooth paste.. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan in which biryani is to be made.. Add in tejpatta, laung, elaichi and shah jeera.. Add in the paste and cook for few minutes till the raw fragrance fades away.. Add in onions and green chillies and cook again till translucent.. Add in tomato puree and cover and cook on sim for around 10mins till oil seperates.. Then add in mushrooms, red chilli powder and garam masala.. Mix and cook for 2mins.. Add in 1 1/2 cup water and salt.. The water should taste a bit more salty.. Once it boils add the soaked rice, mix and cover and let it cook on sim for around 15-20mins till rice is well cooked.. Stir only once in between.. Off gas and keep it covered for another 10mins allowing all the flavours to blend.. Finally add coriander and mix lightly and serve with raita of your choice...