Mutton Biriyani

Ingredients

Mutton ½ kg
Onion medium size 6 -chopped finely
Tomato medium size 3- chopped finely
Garlic 2 1/2tab spoons
Ginger 2 1/2tabspoons
Green chilly paste 2 tab spoons
Garam masala powder 1 tablespoon
Yogurt 4tab spoons
Coriander leaves 1 cup
Mint leaves ¾ cup
Ghee ½ cup
Limejuice 4 teaspoons
Chilly powder 1 teaspoon
Turmeric powder ¼ teaspoon
Coriander powder 1 teaspoon
Basmati rice 2 ½ cups.

Method of Preparation
Heat Ghee in a pan. Sauté onions till golden brown. Add garlic-ginger-green chilly paste. Fry for two minutes. Put chopped tomatoes, chilly powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder, mint leaves and coriander leaves into this. Sauté for a few minutes till the masala becomes thick. Add cut and cleaned mutton pieces and stir. Pour little water [if required] and mix. Cook till mutton is done. Add yogurt.

Boil water. Add enough salt, a pinch of turmeric powder, 2 cardamoms, 3 small pieces of cinnamon, 2 cloves, and 1 spoon ghee into this. Cook rice until it is done and drain. Take care the rice not to be sticky.

Heat a vessel. Pour a little of ghee. Put a little of cooked rice and spread 1 teaspoon of limejuice over it. Put one layer of the mutton masala above it and repeat the process till the rice and masala are over. Close the lid tightly and heat on a low flame for about 10 minutes. Mix before serve. Serve with yogurt and cocunut-pudina chutney and pickle.

Chicken Biriyani

Biriyani is a very famous traditional Indian dish. Basically biriyani is made up of basmati rice, mixed with a curry made up of rich spieces! If you are familiar with Indian cusine, then you must have tasted this mouth watering dish.., if not do try once ! You can surely find ‘Biriyani’ in the menu card of any Indian Restaurant.

Sl.No  Ingredients  Quantity  PreCooking Preperation 
1 Basmati Rice  2 Cups   
2 Ghee  4 Tablespoons   
3 Chicken 800 gms Cleaned and cut into medium pieces
4 Onions  3 -4 Medium Sized  Slice finely
7 Green Peas 1/2 cup boiled
8 Potatoes 1 Medium Sized Peeled and Sliced finely 
9 Green Chillies 3 or 4 Slit
10  Tomatoes 3 or 4 Chopped fine
11 Ginger – Garlic 1 Tablespoon Paste
12 Chilli Powder 1 1/2 Teaspoon  
13 Turmeric Powder  1/4 Teaspoon  
14 Coriander Powder  1 1/2 Teaspoon  
15 Garam Masala 1 Teaspoon  
16 Cloves 5 or 6  
17 Cardamoms 5 or 6  
18 Cinnamon 2 cms stick  
19 Pepper Corns 9 or 10  
20 Bay Leaves 3  
21 Milk 1/4 cup  
22 Saffron Small pinch Soak in milk
23 Coriander Leaves Small bunch Cleaned and Chopped
24 Oil For frying  
25 Pudina Leaves Small bunch Cleaned and Chopped
26 Salt To taste  

Preparation of Chicken Biriyani
Deep fry onions till golden brown. Drain and keep aside a small portion for garnishing.
Add the items 10 to 15, into the remaining onions, and cook for seven minutes, at medium heat.
Add 1/4 cup of water, green chillies, and cook till ghee seperates.
Add the pudina leaves, chicken pieces, along with salt, and cook at a medium heat adding little water.
Remove from heat when the chicken pieces are cooked tender, and the gravy thickens.
In a heavy bottomed vessel, fry items 16 to 20 in ghee, and add into rice. Cook rice in water with salt, take care that rice grains are not over cooked.
Mix the cooked rice with saffron water/ milk, so that some of it becomes orange / yellowish. If saffron is not available you can use orange color, and saffron essense as a substitute.
Deep fry potatoes in oil.
Heat ghee in a heavy bottom vessel, spoon in 1/3 of the rice and add 1/2 of the chicken masala on top.
Sprinkle peas, fried onions, and coriander leaves on top.
Again make a layer of rice, cover with chicken, sprinkle the onion, potatoes, and coriander leaves.
When you finish, on the top layer spread the rest of the rice.
Garnish with coriander leaves, fried onions, cashewnuts, and raisins.
Seal the vessel with a heavy lid, cook on a very slow fire for some 20-25 minutes. (Optionally you can use oven)
Your chicken biriyani is ready ! Serve hot with raita, or curd and salad, and pickles.