Mushroom Biryani Recipe

Mushroom biryani recipe – learn how to make mushroom biryani with step by step photos. Recipe includes instructions for regular pot, traditional cooker & instant pot. Mushroom biryani is a delicious one pot dish made with rice, mushrooms, masala powder & herbs. Traditionally a biryani is made with meat, marinated in yogurt and then layered with parboiled basmati rice & herbs. It is then dum cooked to trap the steam.

Since this is a vegetarian biryani it can be made following this simple one pot method. Mushrooms are called as putta godugulu in telugu, kalaan or kalan in tamil and khumb in hindi. It is not a common veggie in the Indian cuisine.

Mushrooms are a powerhouse of nutrition, have high anti oxidants, many other nutrients and are said to increase immunity. They can be added to everyday vegetables to prepare curry, stir fry, fried rice, pulao and even in a flavorful biryani.

Though we don’t like mushrooms much, I prepare them sometimes at least to get the health benefits they provide.

This simple mushroom biryani recipe is made with white button mushrooms & fresh ground biryani masala powder.

I have also mentioned how to make instant biryani masala powder that you can prepare in just 2 minutes. If you do not have the whole spices then you can even use a ready made garam masala powder.

I have 2 videos on this recipe. Here is the one for Mushroom biryani in pot.

How to Make Mushroom Biryani (Stepwise photos)

Spice powder

1. Soak 2 cups basmati rice in a large bowl for 30 mins. After 30 mins drain the water from the rice. I prefer to make and use fresh spice powder. If you have ready made garam masala or biryani masala you can also use that. But this mushroom biryani gets it real taste and aroma from the masala powder that is used. So make sure you use a good one. These are the spices I have used. Be careful not to use more as it can make your biryani bitter.

• 4 green cardamoms
• 1 inch cinnamon
• 6 cloves
• ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 small strand mace (javitri) (don’t use more, optional)
• 1 pinch nutmeg (jaiphal) (don’t use more, optional)
• ½ tsp stone flower (dagad phool / kalpasi) (optional)

2. Make a fine powder of the above ingredients. I also sieve the powder. Coarse spices can be added to your tea.

Make Biryani

3. Heat a pot or cooker with 2 tablespoons oil or ghee. When it turns hot, add the following whole spices the whole spices. If you do not have some of them just skip.

• 1 bay leaf
• 1 star anise (biryani flower)
• ½ tsp shahi jeera or (jeera – cumin)
• 2 green cardamoms
• 1 cinnamon – 2 inch piece
• 4 cloves or laung

4. Add 1 medium sliced onion (half cup) and 1 to 2 chopped green chilies.

5. Spread the onions and saute until they turn golden. Then add 1 to 1½ tablespoon ginger garlic paste.

6. Next saute the ginger garlic for 1 to 2 mins until it turns aromatic. Then add ½ cup chopped tomatoes, ½ teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon turmeric. Saute everything until tomatoes breakdown and become soft. While the tomatoes cook, rinse and slice the mushrooms.

7. Then add

• ½ teaspoon red chili powder
• 3 tablespoons chopped mint (pudina)
• Biryani masala from step 1 (or 1½ teaspoon garam masala)

8. Saute for 2 mins. Turn down the flame to very low flame and add 6 tablespoons yogurt (½ cup + 2 tablespoons curd) or coconut milk.

9. Mix everything well.

Fry mushrooms for biryani

10. Add about 2 to 2½ cups sliced mushrooms.

11. Saute the mushrooms in the masala for 2 to 3 mins.

12. Add the drained rice and pour water.

13. Mix well and check salt by tasting the water. If needed add more. I forgot to add mint in the earlier step so I added here.

14. Cover and cook on a medium low flame until the rice if fully done.

15. When the rice is completely done, add some chopped coriander leaves.

Troubleshooting tip: Once the water is all absorbed, you can check if the rice is done correctly. If not then pour little hot boiling water & give a stir. Cook covered.

16. Mushroom biryani turns fluffy, grainy and fully cooked.

Serve mushroom biryani with raita.

This biryani can be served with Raita and some papads on the side. You can also pack this in the office or school lunch box.

Pro tips

1. Rice: I have used basmati rice to make the mushroom biryani. However you can also use any non-sticky short grain rice like seeraga samba rice or keema rice or sona masuri.
2. Water: I have used 1¾ cups water for every cup of basmati rice as there is yogurt too in the recipe. If using any other rice, then adjust the amount of water depending on the rice. For other kinds of rice just use the same amount of water as you would use to make your regular rice.
3. Mushrooms: I have used button mushrooms. You can experiment with any other mushrooms of your choice.
4. Spices: Feel free to alter the tempering spices and use what ever you have in hand.
5. Vegan: To make the recipe vegan just skip curd or yogurt and use coconut milk. You can also substitute water in the recipe with coconut milk and cook the mushroom biryani with coconut milk alone.
6. Biryani masala : The key to this flavorful biryani is the biryani masala powder that I shared in this recipe. It elevates the flavors completely. If you do not have the whole spices needed to make the mushroom biryani then just use garam masala.

You can follow this mushroom biryani recipe and make it in a pot, traditional cooker or even in instant pot. I have included the instructions for all.

More Mushroom recipes
Kadai mushroom
Mushroom masala
Matar mushroom
Mushroom manchurian
Chilli mushroom

Biryani is one of our favorite foods at home, so I make it often. You may also like to check these biryani recipes.

Instant Pot Mushroom Biryani

Here I halved the recipe so the ingredients will look lesser.

1. Press saute button on the IP and pour oil to the steel insert. Add 1 bay leaf, 1 star anise, half teaspoon shahi jeera, 2 green cardamoms, one 2 inch cinnamon piece and 4 cloves.

2. When the spices sizzle, add half cup sliced onions and 1 slit green chili. Saute onions until light golden. Then add 1 to 1½ tablespoon ginger garlic and saute quickly.

3. Then add half cup chopped tomatoes and sprinkle half teaspoon salt. Saute until the tomatoes turn soft, for about 1 to 2 mins.

4. Add ½ teaspoon red chilli powder and the biryani masala powder we made. If you are using garam masala use 1½ teaspoon.

5. Quickly mix it and add 6 tablespoons yogurt.

6. Mix everything well and deglaze to remove bits of food stuck at the bottom.

7. Then add 2 to 2½ cups sliced mushrooms (220 to 250 grams), 3 tablespoons mint and 3 tablespoons of coriander leaves. Saute for 2 mins and press cancel.

8. Add drained rice and pour 2½ cups water.

9. Mix everything well and taste test. Water has to be slightly salty. If need add more salt.

10. Secure the instant pot with the lid and position the steam release valve to sealing. Press pressure cook button and set the timer to 5 minutes. Let the pressure release manually for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, fluff up the rice and cover back. This helps the rice on the top layer to soften and cook evenly. Serve mushroom biryani with raita.

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