Malabar Mutton Biryani

Malabar - the northern region of Kerala, is popular for its culinary treats. This Malabar Mutton Biryani, a superb dish of ghee, rice, mutton and spices.
Ingredients :
½ kg basmati rice
½ kg mutton, cleaned and cut into big pieces
¼ kg onions, finely sliced
½ cup finely sliced tomatoes
10 green chillies
1 inch piece of ginger
8 garlic pods
1 tsp pepper powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
5 nos cashew nuts
4 sticks cinnamon (daalchini)
4 cloves (laung)
4 cardamom (elaichi)
1 tbsp curd
½ tsp fennel (saunf)
½ bunch mint leaves
½ bunch coriander leaves
¼ cup ghee
¼ cup oil
salt as required

Method of Preparation :
Grind ginger, garlic, and green chillies into a coarse paste. Clean and soak rice for 30 minutes and keep aside. Heat oil in a heavy bottom pan or kadai. Add ½ the sliced onions and fry till golden brown, then keep aside.

Heat up the remaining oil. Add the rest of the sliced onions and cashew nuts and fry till soft. Add tomatoes, ground paste, turmeric powder, pepper powder, curd, mint, and coriander leaves and sauté till the oil starts to separate. Add mutton and cook till the mutton is ¾ done.

Add salt as per need. Cook the rice along with all spices and salt, till it is ¾ done. Grease a vessel with little ghee. Spread ½ the mutton masala and place ½ the rice over it. Pour 2 tbsp ghee on top of it and sprinkle some roasted onion. Spread the remaining masala and top it with rice followed by ghee and fried onion. Close it with an airtight lid and put it in dum for 10-15 minutes.

Serves : 4

Preparation Time : 90 mins