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Vegan Mushroom Biryani, gluten-free, soy-free, low fat. HolyCowVegan.net
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5 from 4 votes

Mushroom Biryani

This healthy and delicious Mushroom Biryani makes for the perfect weekend -- or weeknight -- dinner. All you need to go with it is a vegan raita, like a Cucumber Raita. A gluten-free, soy-free recipe.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Main, Rice
Cuisine: Indian, Soy-free, Vegan
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 196kcal

Equipment

  • Dutch oven with lid or any large pot

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups basmati rice (Soak the rice for 30 minutes and then wash thoroughly to remove as much of the starch as you can).
  • 2 teaspoon shahjeera (or caraway seeds. Use cumin as a substitute if you can't find these)
  • 3 pods green cardamom
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 16 oz cremini mushrooms or button mushrooms, quartered
  • ½ cup raw cashews
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 teaspoon avocado oil or any neutral oil
  • ¼ cup dill or mint, chopped
  • ¼ cup cilantro (chopped)
  • 2 heaping tbsp biryani masala
  • 2 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
  • ½ teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne or paprika
  • ½ cup fried onions (use the kind you find in the supermarket, like French's, or at the Indian store, or make your own. I spray sliced onions with some cooking spray and roast them in the toaster oven at 350 degrees until they are brown, about 30 minutes.)
  • Salt to taste
  • A pinch of saffron strands soaked in ¼ cup nondairy milk

Instructions

  • Blend the raw cashews with 1 cup of water and the lemon juice. Set aside.
  • In a saucepan, place 2 cups of water, cardamom, bay leaves, and half the shahjeera. Add salt to taste.
  • Pour in the drained rice and place over a medium fire. When the water starts to boil, cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid and then turn down the heat to the lowest setting.
  • Let the rice steam for 8 minutes. Turn off the heat.
  • Heat the oil in a large saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Add the remaining shahjeera seeds or cumin seeds and, when they start to change color, add the mint and coriander leaves. Stir to mix.
  • Add the ginger garlic paste and saute another couple of minutes, stirring frequently to ensure they do not stick to the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle on some salt and pepper to season.
  • Add the turmeric, cayenne or paprika, biryani masala, half of the fried onions, and the blended cashew-lemon paste. Stir well to mix and let it cook for a minute. Add salt.
  • Add the mushrooms to the saucepan and stir to coat with the spices. If the mixture looks too dry, add ½ cup of water or vegetable stock. Let the sauce come to a boil.
  • Turn off the heat. Spread the cooked rice on top of the sauce in an even layer. Sprinkle on the remaining fried onions and the saffron with the milk.
  • Cover with a tight lid. If the lid you have doesn't fit snugly, you can cover with a sheet of aluminum foil and then place the lid on top to make it as airtight as possible.
  • Turn the heat to high for about three minutes, then lower it to the lowest setting, and let the biryani cook, undisturbed, for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it stand for at least 10 minutes, uncovered, before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 196kcal | Protein: 4.5g | Fat: 4.4g | Potassium: 359mg | Fiber: 1.6g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Vitamin C: 5.8mg | Calcium: 80mg | Iron: 0.5mg