Mushroom and Babycorn Biryani

Ingredients list for Mushroom and Babycorn Biryani

• 8-10 Button mushrooms cut into quarters
• 8-10 Babycorn sliced diagonally
• 1 1/2 cups Basmati rice soaked
• 10-12 Black peppercorns
• 4 Bay leaves
• 7-9 Green cardamoms
• 2 teaspoons Caraway seeds (shahi jeera)
• 2 pinches Saffron (kesar)
• 3 teaspoons Ghee
• 2-3 Cloves
• 1 medium Onion sliced
• 1 1/2 teaspoon Ginger-garlic paste
• 1/2 cup Fresh cream
• 2 tablespoons Butter
• to taste Salt
• 1 teaspoons Coriander powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Red chilli powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Turmeric powder
• 1 cup Yogurt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Garam masala powder
• 1 cup Fresh mint leaves
• 1 cup Fresh coriander leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon Screwpine essence (kewra)
• 1 cup Fried onions

Method

1. Heat sufficient water in a deep non-stick pan. Add half the peppercorns, 2 bay leaves, half the green cardamoms, 1 teaspoon caraway seeds, a pinch saffron and 1 teaspoon ghee. Mix well.
2. Add rice and mix gently. Cook till the rice is ¾ done. Remove from heat, strain and spread the rice on a tray. Set aside.
3. Heat remaining ghee in a non-stick pan. Add remaining caraway seeds, remaining peppercorns, remaining cardamoms, cloves, remaining bay leaves and mix well. Add sliced onion and sauté till it turns golden.
4. Add ginger-garlic paste, mix and sauté w2ell. Add 2-3 tablespoons water and mix well.
5. Combine cream, butter and remaining saffron in a bowl and mix well. Set aside.
6. Add babycorn and mushrooms to the pan and mix well. Add salt, coriander powder, red chilli powder and turmeric powder and mix well.
7. Add yogurt and mix well. Add 1 teaspoon garam masala powder, ½ cup mint leaves, ½ cup coriander leaves and mix well. Cover and cook on low heat for 8-10 minutes.
8. Spread the prepared rice on the vegetables. Top with cream-butter mixture and drizzle screwpine essence on top. Sprinkle remaining mint leaves, coriander leaves, garam masala powder and finish by topping with fried onions. Cover with an aluminium foil, place a lid on top, reduce heat and cook for 10-15 minutes.
9. Serve hot.