Mushroom Curry (Taridar Khumbi)
An easy mushroom curry, tangy with a slight bite, that goes well with rice or a roti.
Ingredients
- 8 oz white button or baby bella mushrooms (also know as cremini mushrooms, about 2 cups)
- 2 medium bay leaves
- 1 medium onion (sliced relatively thin, about 1 cup—if too long cut the slices in half.)
- 1 stick cinnamon (or ⅛ tsp cinnamon powder)
- ¼ tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 small green chili, halved (or 1 dry red chili or to your taste)
- 1 large tomato (chopped fine—about ¾ cup)
- ½ tsp red chili powder (or to your taste)
- 1 tsp cumin powder ( 2tablespoons chopped cilantro/ green coriander for relish )
- ½ tsp tumeric powder
- 1 tbsp ground cashew nuts (optional)
- ¼ tsp gram masala
- 1 tsp salt (or to your taste)
- 1 cup hot water (or vegetable or chicken broth)
- 3 tbsp oil
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro / green coriander (for relish)
Instructions
To Prepare:
- Gently wipe the mushrooms with a damp cloth to get rid of any grit.
- Slice the mushrooms in half, then slice each half into 2 or 3 slices, depending on the size on the mushroom. Try to keep the slices even.
- Set aside.
To Cook:
- Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet or wok on medium heat.
- When hot, add the green chili until it begins to brown, about 30 seconds.
- Now add in the cumin seeds. When they start to splutter, add the bay leaves and cinnamon stick, stir for about 30 seconds.
- Now, add the onions. Sauté until almost golden. About 6-7 minutes.
- Add the tomatoes and sauté for 4-5 minutes until the tomatoes are well blended.
- Next, add the ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, red chili powder, and cumin powder.
- Sauté for another 5 minutes until you see the oil surface.
- Add the ground cashew nuts and garam masala. Sauté for about 2 minutes.
- Now, add the sliced mushroom. Stir gently and well until the mushrooms are nicely coated and the oil starts to surface, approximately 5 minutes.
- Add the cup of hot water or broth. Stir. Let cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Turn off the heat. Sprinkle one tablespoon of chopped cilantro. Stir and let sit for 5 minutes. Pour into a serving dish.
- Garnish with remaining cilantro.
- Serve with any style of rice or roti—pairs well with other flat breads like naan, paratha, or pita.
Notes
1. If you prefer to wash the mushrooms, you can, but let it drain and dry out a bit before you slice it.
2. If you want to add peas, add ¾ cup of tender peas during the last 10 minutes. You can also zap them for two minutes in the microwave and add them in the last 5 minutes.
3. If using cinnamon powder, add it when you add the other spice powders.
4. If you are allergic to nuts, omit the powdered cashew nuts or add a tablespoon of ground poppy seeds. Adding either of these thickens and lends a creaminess to the gravy.