Since American Idol started,we have an appointment with the television the days its telecast.We love to watch AI.The initial episodes are watched just for pure entertainment value but after the top 24 are selected we watch it for talent and vote for our favourites.As I mentioned earlier,my husband is a huge fan of the Beatles so this tuesday we were more than eager to watch it because the contestants were going to sing the McCartney-Lennon collection.I knew that once we sat to watch the episode niether of us would want to get up and make repeated trips to the kitchen,so I wanted to make something which is really filling and basically a one dish meal.What better dish than Mutton Biryani,I thought.I dont make this as often as chicken biryani but whenever I make it,the vessels are licked clean :) I dont make the layered biryani…..I just mix the rice with the gravy and the biryani is ready,though it can be made into layers.The preparation is a bit lengthy but the results are worth it.I finished my cooking by 7:30 and we took our plates and sat in front of the television to cheer our favourites.

On a side note our favourite this year is Michael Johns.We were bowled over by his rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody ! And on tuesday we really liked the way he sang Across the Universe.He sounded so cute when he sang the phrase “Jai Guru Deva”.Totally disagreed with Randy and Simon !!!

muttonbiryani.jpg

Ingredients:

1 pound mutton 
3 large onions
1 green chilli
2 medium tomatoes
1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
4 flakes of garlic
4 tbsp cilantro chopped
1 small ball of tamarind
1 large potato
1 tbsp red chilli pdr(or 6 kashmiri chillies)
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp turmeric powder
2 cups rice
14 cloves
3 pieces of cinamon stick
3 bay leaves
6 cardamom pods
18 peppercorns
2 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tbsp coriander seeds
1/4 cup cashews
1/4 cup raisins
A pinch of saffron
salt to taste
4 tbsp oil
2 tbsp ghee

Method:

Marinate mutton with salt,1/2 tsp turmeric powder and ginger-garlic paste and keep aside for atleast an hour.

Wash the rice and soak it in water and keep for atleast an hour.

Chop one onion,green chilli and the tomatoes.

Heat a vessel.Add 2 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp ghee.Add in 4 cloves,1 cinamon stick,6 peppercorns, 1 bay leaf and 2 cardamom pods.

After about 5 seconds add the green chilli.Saute for 5 seconds and then add chopped onions.

When the onions become transluscent add the chopped tomatoes.

Cover and cook for a couple of minutes.When the tomatoes become soft add the mutton pieces.Add approximately 1 cup of water and cook covered.

Slice one onion and garlic and keep aside.

In a frying pan dry roast cumin seeds,fennel seeds and coriander seeds seperately.

Remove on a plate.Add a tbsp of oil and a tbsp of ghee.Add 4 cloves,1 cinamon stick,1 bayleaf,8 peppercorns and 2 cardamom pods.

After 5 seconds add the sliced onions.When they are almost brown add the chopped garlic.Remove from flame after 10 seconds and cool.

Take a bowl and remove about half cup of mutton stock (the broth in which the mutton is cooking).Cool.

In a mixer/blender add the chopped cilatro,cumin seeds,fennel seeds,coriander seeds,tamarind,chilli powder,paprika and half tsp tumeric powder.Then add the fried onions and garlic.

Finally add the stock and blend to a fine paste.Add this masala to the mutton and cover and cook.

Slice 1 onion and keep aside.

Heat a tbsp of oil in a frying pan.Add in the onion and brown them.Then add the cashews and raisins and mix well.Remove the pan from  flame after 10 seconds.

Boil the rice with the remaining cloves,cinamon stick,bay leaf,cardamoms and peppercorns.Add the saffron and salt and cook the rice till it’s 90 percent done.

When the mutton is almost tender add the potatoes and boil till both the mutton and potatoes are well cooked.If there is a lot of gravy,cook the mutton uncovered so that the gravy reduces.Check for salt.

Add the cooked rice to the mutton gravy and mix well.Cover and cook on simmer till rice is well cooked.

Garnish with brown onions,cashews and raisins.

Serve hot with raita and lemon wedges.