Hyderabadi Dhum Hara Mutton Biryani

Hyderabadi cuisine is slightly sour, hot and richly endowed with Nuts and assorted spices and cooked in asli Ghee has to be enjoyed to be believed. Sometimes simple aids like slow cooking and Dhum (steam) help produce rich flavours. The cuisine emphasizes the use of ingredients that are carefully chosen and cooked to the right degree and time.

Ingredients:-

-Mutton 1 kg

-High quality Basmati Rice 3 cups

-Yogurt 1 cup

-Green Chilies 9-10

-Fresh Coriander 1 bunch

-Mint leaves 1/2 bunch

-Juice of 2 lemons

-Onions sliced 3 medium

-Cardamom 2-3

-Bay Leaf 1-2

-Black Stone Flower(Pathar ke Phool) 1

-Star Anise(Chakra Phool) 1-2

-Cloves 3-4

-Whole Black Pepper Corn(Kali Mari) 4-5

-Cinnamon sticks 1-2

-Black Cumin seeds 1 tbsp

-Saffron 1 tsp mixed in 1/2 cup hot milk.

-Ginger Garlic paste 4-5 tbsp

-Ghee/Oil 1 cup

-Garam Masala powdered 1 tbsp

-Salt to taste

For Dhum:- Wheat Flour(Atta)

Water

Method:

First, marinate the Mutton with Ginger Garlic paste, Yogurt, Salt, half of the Lemon juice and 2 tbsp of Ghee . Make a paste of Green Chilies, fresh Coriander,Mint leaves and ground whole Garam Masala add it to the Mutton Leave it to marinate for 1-2 Hrs.

Meanwhile, saute the Onions in a cup of Ghee/Oil till they are dark brown then make a half portion of Onions and then add crush half of them to the marinated Mutton. Keep aside the remaining Oil/Ghee.

Boil the Rice with Salt, Oil, Bay Leaf, Black Stone Flower, Star Anise, Black Cumin seeds, Black Pepper Corn. Take them out when they are half cooked.

Preparation for Dhum with Dough:- Mix the Atta with Water and make a Dough, then keep aside.

Now prepare for Dhum. First add the Ghee/Oil which we fried the Onions in it, add that Oil/Ghee first, then layer of Mutton and a layer of Rice, on the top add the remaining portion of fried Onions then add Saffron mixed with lukewarm Milk, Mint and Coriander leaves and Ghee. For Dhum seal the mouth of the vessel with the Dough and make sure there is no gap when you close the lid on top, then give Dhum for 45-50 mins. Now the Hyderabadi Dhum Hara Mutton Biryani is ready. Serve with Mirchi ka Salan and Raitha.