Mutton Biryani - Kerala Style & Award

Ingredients :

For rice :
Basmati rice :2cups
Water :4cups
Cloves/karambu :4nos
Cardamom pods/elakka :4nos
Cinnamon stick/karuvapatta :1nos(1" pieces)
Bay leaves :1no
Lemon Juice :2tsp (freshly squeezed)
Salt to taste

For Marinating Mutton:
Mutton : 1kg/2.2lb
Turmeric powder :1/2tsp
Red chilli powder :1tsp
Yogurt : 1/2cup
Briyani masala :1tsp
Salt to taste

For Mutton Masala :
Onion :4nos (medium)(thinly sliced)
Tomato :2nos (medium)(chopped)
Green chillies :15-20nos (chopped)
Ginger :1"Piece
Garlic :8-10 cloves
Briyani Masala: 1tsp
Red chilli powder :1tsp
Coriander powder :2tbsp
Turmeric powder :1/4tsp
Mint leaves/Pudhin :1/4cup (chopped)
Cilantro/Corainder leaves :1/2cup (chopped)
Oil/Ghee : 2tbsp

For Nutty paste :
Fennel seeds/perinjeerakam :1tsp
Poppy seeds :1tsp
Grated Coconut :3tbsp
Cashew nut :10nos

For Garnishing :
Cashew nuts :Handful
Raisins :Handful
Ghee :3-5tbsp
Onion :1/2 cup (thinly sliced)
Coriander leaves :Handful
Saffron : 1-2 strand
Warm milk : 2tsp

Method of Preparation :

1.Soak the poppy seeds,fennel seeds,cashewnut in the water for half an hour and grind it with grated coconut to smooth paste and keep it aside.
2.Blend ginger,garlic,green chillies to coarse paste and set it aside.

Preparation for Mutton Masala:

1.Cut the mutton piece into medium size pieces, wash & clean mutton with pinch of turmeric and drain the water well.
2.Marinate the mutton with all above mentioned marinate ingredients for 1hrs at room temperature.
3.Heat ghee/oil in a pan/pressure cooker. Add thinly sliced onion and saute onions until it is translucent.
4.Add the ginger,garlic,green chillie paste,saute until brown color.
5.Add chopped tomatoes and saute for few seconds.
6.Add the briyani masala,turmeric powder,red chilli powder,coriander powder,combine well and saute untill the raw smell goes.
7.Add marinated mutton pieces and add nutty paste,herbs; lower the flame and pressure cook it for 1-2 whistle.(If needed add very little water)
8.Open the lid and cook till the gravy becomes thick & mutton is tender remove from fire.Adjust the salt.



Preparation for Cooking Rice:

1.Soak the rice for 30mins and drain the water completely.
2.Boil the required water,with half of the whole masala (cardamom, cloves & cinnamon )and little olive oil & salt.
3.Heat ghee in a pan & splutter whole masala.Add the cleaned & drained rice, when the rice starts cracking add it to boiled water and cook the rice for 810 mins.(uncovered)
4.When rice done drain the excess water immediately spread the rice on a tray and sprinkle the lemon juice.let it cool for sometime.

Preparation for Garnishing :

1.Heat ghee and fry the thinly sliced onion till golden colour and crispy for 15 miutes sprinkle little sugar to caramelize,remove and drain on to the paper towel.
2.Now fry cashews and then raisins until they turn golden colour,drain and remove on to the paper towel and keep it aside.(Save the leftover ghee for layering the briyani)
3.Mix saffron strand in warm milk and keep it aside.


Cooking in Oven:

1.Preheat oven to 350 degree F/180 degree C.
2.In a oven proof dish,Grease your cooking dish and spread half of the mutton masala and with some cooked rice,sprinkle pinch briyani masala,fried cashews & raisins ,fried onions and chopped coriander leaves, sprinkle left over ghee and few drops of saffron milk and the rice as the final layering.
3.Close it with aluminium foil, crimp along the side and and bake it for 25mins.
4.When it is done, remove and keep the dish covered untill serving.

Cooking in Dum method :

1.When the mutton is almost cooked,spread the half of the cooked rice over it into the saute pan.
2.Sprinkle fried cashews, raisins, fried onions, chopped coriander leaves and saffron milk and close with tight fitting lid seal the lid with maida dough.
3.Heat a flat cast iron skillet or tawa,place the saute pan on it and cook on high heat for 20mts and turn off the flame.
4.Let it rest unopened on tawa for another 15mts and now dum is also done
5.Serve & Enjoy with raita,onion salad,pickle and pappadam!!!

Asha of asha-oeanichope and priya of Priyas recipes has shared a beautiful awards with me. Thank u a lot asha and priya.

From Asha


From Priya

I would love to share this awards to all my blogger friends.I request all my lovely friends to feel free to accept it and post it in your blog.

Happy blogging and a Happy Holiday..:)