Easy Mushroom Layered Biryani

Hi all, I am a quite crazy when it comes to making biryani. I not only love to play around with ingredients but also love to try different methods . This time it is the layered method, it involves many stages but do follow my procedure and make this yummy biryani with mushroom. My daughter loves this a lot and I made this for her lunch today. Now on to the recipe....

Ingredients:
For mushroom:
Mushroom - 2 packets(400gms)
Oil - 2tsp
Salt - to taste
Turmeric powder - a pinch
Chilli powder - 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder - 1/4 tsp

For masala
Oil - 2 tsp
Onion - 2
Tomato -1
Ginger garlic paste - 1 tsp
Mint leaves - 10 to 15
Coriander leaves - few
Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
Chilli powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - to taste
Curd - 1 tsp

For basmati rice
Basmati rice - 1 1/2 cup
Water - 7 cup
Salt - to taste
Cloves - 2
Cinnamon - 1 inch piece
Star anise - a small piece
Marati mokku - a small piece

For layering
Onion - 1 ( fried till golden)
Mint leaves - 10
Coriander leaves - few
Water - to sprinkle.

Procedure
Step 1
Wash and cut the mushrooms .
Heat oil in a kadai and add mushrooms. After sometime it will ooze out water.
Now add salt and saute until all the water is dried up and it turns brown on the sides. Next add in turmeric, chilli and coriander powder and give a toss.(mushroom is ready)

Step 2
Heat oil in a Kadai and add onions and green chilli fry till translucent. Next go on adding ginger garlic paste and sauté for a minute.

Then add in the mint and coriander leaves and sauté it. Then add tomatoes and sauté until it turns mushy. Add in the turmeric, chilli, coriander powder and salt.

Finally add the mushrooms and curd and give a nice toss. Your masala is ready .

Step 3
Wash and soak the basmati rice for 30 minutes and drain it in the strainer. Boil 7 cups of water .
To that boiling water add the spices and salt.

Now add the rice and cook until the rice is 70% cooked. Now drain the rice and spread it in a plate and allow it to cool.

Step 4
Get all the things ready now (Rice, masala, few mint and coriander leaves and fried onions).
Grease the cooker with some oil.
First put 2tbsp of masala in the cooker.
Then add some rice and sprinkle some water.
Next put some mint, coriander and fried onions and add some rice.
Sprinkle some water.
Next add some masala, mint and then rice and sprinkle some water.Keep repeating until all are layered. Finally add some masalas and fried onions on the top and sprinkle some water.

Put the gasket,weight and close the cooker and place it on the heated dosa pan for 15 minutes in low flame.
Open the cooker after 1/2 an hour and mix it with a fork and have it.

Mouthwatering Mushroom biryani is ready!!!

Notes
Do add salt while cooking basmati rice.
You can replace sprinkling of water with milk + saffron.
It goes well with raita.
Sautéing mushrooms gives an authentic flavour.
After opening cooker it will look white don't panic just mix with a fork(all the flavours will be incorporated in the rice as it is put in dum)

Cheers
Jayanthi B