Mutton Biryani

 
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hr and 30 minutes
No. of servings: 6
Spice level: 3.5 out of 5
Ingredients:

• Mutton – 1 kg (2.2 lb, chopped into small pieces)
• Red onions – 3 (medium size)
• Green chilies – 14 (adjust to your spice level)
• Ginger – 100 gram (two big pieces)
• One whole big garlic
• Tomatoes – 3 (big)
• Mint leaves – a handful
• Basmati rice – 2 and 1/2 cups
• Salt to taste
• Oil – 6 tbsp

Spices:

• Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp
• Garam masala – 1 tsp
• Cinnamon stick – 2 (each 2″ inch in length)
• Cloves – 6
• Cardamom – 6
• Bay leaf – 3 to 4
• Black peppercorns- 1 tbsp
• Crushed black peppercorn – 1/2 tsp

1. Wash mutton a couple of times and pressure cook with salt and 1/2 tsp of crushed black peppercorns. Add water until the mutton is fully immersed.
2. Cook for 4 to 5 whistles. Mutton should be very soft but not over cooked.
3. Transfer mutton to a bowl and reserve the mutton stock (remaining liquid from the cooked mutton).
4. Heat 5 tbsp of oil in the same pressure cooker, add cut green chilies, chopped onions and saute until brown and caramelized.
5. Add all the spices except turmeric and garam masala and saute for 5 minutes or until the spices releases its aroma.
6. Add  salt, finely ground ginger and garlic paste (equal amount), mix well for a minute and add chopped tomatoes.  Cook until tomatoes are mashed.
7. Add turmeric powder, garam masala and mint leaves, cook for a minute and add mutton. Mix everything well and let the gravy cook for a couple of minutes to coat with all the spices.
8. Add 4 and 1/2 cups of reserved mutton stock to the gravy. If you do not have enough stock add water.
9. In between rinse basmati rice and spread it in a towel or paper towel to absorb the moisture.
10. Heat a tbsp of oil (preferably olive oil), add basmati rice and saute for a couple of minutes.
11. Add this to the gravy, mix well, add some more salt and pressure cook for 15 minutes over low heat and turn off the stove and leave it for another 20 minutes.
12. Now that the pressure will be released, slowly remove the lid and transfer the contents to a serving tray.
13. Serve with raitha.