From My Rasoi 7 - Comfort foods

Theme - Comfort Foods
Send entries by - August 1st 2006


Ammas' Mutton Biriyani


I sooo love mutton biriyani. My mother completely knows what biriyani is to me. She would make biriyani sometimes just for me. The best part is how we taste-test it. She will get a small plate with the steamingly hot biriyani and she will give a couple of big mouthfuls to me and my sister.. It would just be soooo out-of-the-world !!!

Somehow chicken biriyani just does not give me the flavour I get from mutton biriyani. So since its my comfort food, I am just overlooking the fact that mutton has more fat content.

If you think mutton biriyani is a tedious process, just try this recipe. I am sure you will change your mind.

First things first

• Clean and rinse a cup and half of rice
• Clean and cube a pound of mutton
• Vertically slice one large onion

Throw into the mixie and make a puree with

• one tomato
• half a bunch of cilantro
• two pods garlic
• half an inch ginger

Make a powder with the following

• 3 tsps saunf
• 3 cloves
• 4 cardamom
• 1 inch stick of cinnamon
• 10 peppercorns
• 4 dried red chillies ( add more if you like spicy )

Keep aside

• cleaned bunch of mint
• half tsp garam masala
• two tbl oil

Cooking mutton

• Add water and mutton to pressure cooker. The water should be just below the top of the mutton pieces.
• Cook until 10 whistles keeping the stove in medium high

Putting together

• Heat oil in pressure cooker or pan
• Add onions and saute for 5 minutes
• Add the powder, garam masala and continue sauteing
• Add the puree and continue to saute for another 5 minutes. At this point there should be no liquid in the pan
• Add the mutton pieces ( no water )
• Add the rice and the measure and add the mutton stock ( remaining after cooking the mutton). Ratio is 2:1 liquid:rice.
• Add salt and mix
• Place the mint bunch over the rice and pressuer cook or cook in rice cooker
• Enjoy with raita.

See my other post for instructions regarding cooking biriyani in pressure as well as rice cooker.

Enjoy !!