Poojies

Mutton Biryani

Mutton Biryani is a truely shahi dish fit for kings. Its a perfect one dish meal when you are entertaining. This is a great tasting no fuss recipe without any elaborate ingredients or preparation time. The recipe calls for mutton but chicken can be easily substituted with equally good results.

Ingredients

4 cups basmati rice cooked
2 lbs mutton cleaned
4 tsp butter/ghee
4 tsp oil
1 cup curd/yoghurt
4 tbsp meat masala (I used badshah meat masala, use any available)
4 tbsp biryani masala
2 tbsp ginger paste
2 tbsp garlic paste
1 onion sliced
1 tbsp cilantro/coriander leaves to garnish
4 cloves
4 cardamoms (elaichi)
3-4 star anise
8-10 cashew halves (optional)
10-15 raisins (optional)

Directions

Clean the mutton and add salt, meat masala, garlic paste, ginger paste and keep aside.
Cook 4 cups of basmati rice with a little salt. Cook it just right to ensure the grains of rice is separate and its not over cooked. Separate the cooked rice grains with a fork so it doesnt clump together.
Heat the ghee/butter in a wide pan. When it gets hot add the oil.
Add cloves, cardamoms, after about 15 seconds add the mutton and stir fry for 10 minutes.
Whip the yoghurt and add it to the mutton mixture and stir. Add salt and cook for another 10 mins
Add two cups of water and pressure cook upto 8 whistle. Keep aside.
In another preferrable nonstick vessel heat some oil.
Add start anise. Dry fruits after a few seconds add the onions and fry until golden brown.
Add the biryani masala and fry for 30 seconds
Add the rice and stir slowly so as to incorporate the masala.
In a vessel make a layer of this rice. Add a layer of the prepared mutton. Another layer of rice and a layer of mutton.Finish off with a layer of rice.
Cover and cook in a very slow flame (ensure the rice doesnt burnt) for about 10 minutes. Turn off the heat.
Keep covered for 15 minutes. garnish with coriander leaves and slowly stir the biryani to incorporate the mutton pieces with the rice.
Serve with raita