Mushroom Briyani/ Pulav

Me: Kavin, did you notice that there is something new today around the trees.
Kavin: Looks carefully around a tree and comes back with a smile saying "Mushrooms". Why there are mushrooms today?
Me: Because it rained yesterday and the land is damp. Mushrooms grow anywhere it is damp.
Kavin: Amma, can I go and touch the mushrooms?
Me: They are wild and poisonous mushrooms and not edible. So you cannot touch them.
Kavin: What do you mean by edible?
Me: You call something edible, if you can eat it.
Kavin: Why is this mushroom wild?
 
The conversation about mushroom goes on and on and on between me and my 2 1/2 years old on a cloudy day before he sits in the car to go to his daycare. I am completely enjoying this phase of motherhood answering all his why and what questions. Sometimes I also need to do some research before I answer his questions :-) .


So today is a post about "The meat of the vegetable world"  .


This mushroom briyani/pulav has become a frequent visitor to our kitchen nowadays. All of us in our house like this simple dish which has a lot of flavor from the mushrooms. Mushroom briyani paired with cucumber and onion raitha is a heavenly combination.

Ingredients:

1. Mushroom - 1 pound
2. Basmathi Rice - 1 cup
3. Onion - 1 thinly sliced
4. Ginger garlic paste - 1 tablespoon
5. Tomato - 1 large finely chopped
6. Chilli powder - 1 teaspoon/ more if desired
7. Coriander powder - 2 teaspoons
8. Turmeric powder - 1 teaspoon
9. Oil - 2 tablespoons
10. Whole garam masala - 2 cloves, 2 cardamom, 2 inches of cinnamon
11. Cilantro leaves - 1/2 cup
12. Mint leaves - 1/2 cup
13. Salt - as needed

Method:


1. Clean the rice and soak it in 2 cups of water.
2. In a heated pressure cooker, add oil. Once the oil gets hot, add the whole garam masala.
3. Saute till the aroma of the garam masala comes out. Add onions and ginger garlic paste. Saute till the onions become soft and translucent
4. Now add the tomatoes, salt and turmeric. Let the tomatoes get mushy.
5. Add chilli powder and coriander powder. Cut the mushrooms into bite sized chunks and add it to the masala.
6. Saute it till most of the water oozed out of the mushroom is absorbed.
7. Now add the rice and water. Check for salt and adjust if needed.
8. Cook in the pressure cooker for 2 whistles.


Serve it with Cucumber and Onion Raitha.