Mushroom Biryani with Green Lentils

If you like your fungi along with a forkful of spiced rice, this mushroom biryani is going to tick a lot of boxes.

Vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free, it features meaty shrooms and a delicious combination of flavours for a one-pot meal that's ready in just over 30 minutes.

There's a great mix of aromatics and spices going on here, and I'd certainly encourage you to get your hands on the ingredients if possible. That being said, you could substitute all the whole spices for an equivalent amount of ground cumin (which tends to be more readily available).

If you're interested in more vegan rice dishes, see these recipes for chickpea biryani, homemade pilau rice, and smoked tofu risotto.

Which mushrooms are best?

I've gone with flat cap mushrooms (fitting for a recipe written in Yorkshire) that have been cut into bite-sized pieces. Also known as 'large flat' mushrooms and very similar to the portobello variety, they have a good flavour and meaty texture that goes nicely with the spiced rice.

Of course, you could use any mushrooms you like or have to hand. If you've got a mix, try adding some to the biryani and frying off the others separately to finish the dish when serving.

For more recipes involving flat cap (or portobello) mushrooms, try this vegan haggis, vegan goulash, mushroom stroganoff, and vegan cream of mushroom soup.

Which spices are involved?

This mushroom biryani varies slightly from my chickpea biryani in that it uses smoked paprika and nigella seeds (a.k.a. black onion seeds / kalonji / nigella sativa – the little black seeds you often find in naan bread). It's a great combo that I was very happy with when playing around with the recipe.

Beyond those, both recipes feature the same cumin seeds, fennels seeds, turmeric, and garam masala, not to mention fresh garlic, ginger, and chilli.

What you'll need

To make this delicious one-pot recipe, you'll need:

• Meaty mushrooms as the star ingredient
• Basmati rice for its nutty flavour
• Green lentils for additional plant-based protein
• Aromatics and spices (see section above for more info)

How to make mushroom biryani

Using a large pan with a tight-fitting lid, heat one tablespoon of oil on a low-medium heat. Add the chopped onion, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, and cook for 4-5 minutes or until starting to soften.

Next, add the mushrooms and cook for another 4-5 minutes or until starting to soften, stirring regularly.

Once soft, add the garlic, ginger, and chilli.

Cook for another couple of minutes to soften.

Add another tablespoon of oil then add the cumin seeds, fennel seeds, nigella seeds, garam masala, ground turmeric, and smoked paprika.

Mix well and cook for a minute or so until aromatic.

Add the final tablespoon of oil then stir in the rinsed rice and green lentils. Mix well and fry for a minute, making sure all the rice grains are coated in the oil and spices.

Next, add the boiled water or vegan stock.

Sprinkle with a little more salt, give everything a gentle stir, bring back to a simmer, then cover with a tight-fitting lid. Reduce the heat to very low and cook for 12 minutes (don't remove the lid).

After around 12 minutes, remove the lid to check that the water has been absorbed and the rice grains are tender with a little bit of bite. If not, you can add a splash more water and continue cooking for a few minutes on low heat.

Once the rice grains are tender, remove the pan from the heat and leave to stand for another few minutes with the lid on.

Fluff up the grains gently using a fork and serve.

Serving suggestions

This dish is great with sides and sauces such as vegan cucumber raita, kachumber salad, and various chutneys (not to mention a sprinkling of sliced spring onions, chopped coriander, and/or fresh chilli).

To take the biryani to the next level, top it off with fried mushrooms cooked separately in a little oil and seasoned with a pinch of garam masala. Bonus points for using mixed wild mushrooms and adding greens such as spinach or kale.

I also love grilled king oyster mushrooms, which you could simply pan-fry instead of marinating and grilling.

Hey you – let me know what you think

If you made this recipe and enjoyed it – or did anything differently – I'd love to hear from you down below in the comments 👇

You can also find me and let me know on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook @thepeskyvegan 🌿

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More vegan recipe ideas

If you liked this recipe, you might also enjoy:

• Vegan Jalfrezi with Tofu
• Tofu Risotto with Lemon and Basil
• Vegan Mushroom Stroganoff
• Smoky Mushroom Pâté
• Mushroom and Tarragon Soup
• Sweet Potato Dal with Lime
• Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup
• Jackfruit Coconut Curry

You can also check out my full list of vegan curry recipes and vegan mains.