Mushroom Biryani

One of my all time favourite dish.

Ingredients :

• Basmati Rice                - 2 cup
• Onions                         - 1 1/2 (sliced)
• Tomatoes                     - 2 (sliced)
• Mushroom                   - 1 1/2 cups(diced)
• Bay leaf                       - 1
• Coriander leaves          - 12 cup (chopped)
• Mint leaves                  - 1/4 cup (chopped)
• Curd                           - 1/2 cup (optional)
• Ghee                           - 2 ts. sp
• Oil                               - 3 ta. sp
• Water                          - 3 cups
• Salt as required

Grind to paste :

• Onions                     - 1/2
• Ginger                      - 1/2 inch
• Garlic                       - 4 nos.
• Green chilli               - 2
• Cumin powder         - 1 ts. sp
• Chilli powder           - 1 ts. sp
• Cloves                     - 3 nos.
• Cinnamon sticks       - 1 ( 1/2 inch)
• Cardomom               - 3 nos

Method :

1. Grind together all the ingredients given under Grind to paste. Keep it aside.
2. Wash and soak the rice for 15 minutes. Drain all the water before cooking.
3. Heat oil and ghee in a skillet or cooker ,add bay leaf followed by onions and saute them for 1 minute. Add the chopped mushrooms, saute them for 1 minute.
4. Add the paste , chopped tomatoes and mix them well, saute them till the raw smell goes off and tomatoes are well cooked. Add the beaten curd.
5. Add coriander leaves and mint leaves. Mix them well.
6. Pour 3 cups of water and salt to taste. Leave them to boil.
7. When it starts boiling add the soaked rice and mix them well.
8. When it is half cooked ,close them with a lid and cook them for 3 whistles and turn off the flame.
9. When the pressure goes off , open the lid and serve them hot with cucumber raita.