Mum's Special Mutton Biryani

Ingredients

1 lb or 1/2 kg mutton pieces

1/2 cup yogurt 

1 tbsp garam masala

1/2 tbsp salt

1 tsp red chilli powder

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

250 gms basmati rice( long grain rice)

1" piece cinnamon

1 brown cardamom

4-5 cloves

1 bay leaf

1/ tsp cumin seeds

Water- 2 cups + additional to make gravy with meat

Oil- 2 tbsp

Make green masala of :

10 garlic flakes

1 1/2 " piece ginger

3-4 green chillies

15-20 stem fresh green coriander 

7-8 mint leaves ( optional)

Grind ingredients of green masala in a mixer to make a paste.

For Garnishing:Boiled eggs,fried cashewnuts, browned onion slices

Method:

• Marinate mutton with yogurt, salt, garam masala, nutmeg, red chilli powder, salt and green masala.
• Keep aside for 1-2 hours.
• In a pressure cooker, take 2 tbsp oil and cook the meat along with marinade until it turns slightly brown in color .
• Add 2 cups of water and pressure cook for 10 minutes or till the meat is tender.
• Now in a separate pan, take more oil and fry onions and cumin seeds,bay leaf and the rest of the whole garam masala items ( cinnamon, cloves and brown cardamom).
• Add prepared meat from the pressure cooker to this.
• Measure the gravy that you have in this meat and masala mixture by using a measuring cup.This step and the next step are not done over the gas.
• Make the amount of gravy double the amount of rice. For example, if you have 1 cup of rice, you should have 2 cups of gravy when you measure it using a measuring cup. Incase, you have 1 1/2 cups of gravy, add half cup water to this gravy to make it equal to 2 cups.
• In a big pan, take the meat along with masala and gravy and let one boil come.  Now add the rice. Let it boil again.
• Simmer and cover and cook till all the water dries up and the biryani is ready to eat ( approximately 15-20 minutes).

TIP: At the time of serving, garnish the biryani with boiled eggs, fried cashew nuts and fried onion slices and chopped cilantro leaves.