Mutton Dum Biryani

A very simple method of cooking Dum Biryani without using a heavy bottomed copper vessel and burning hot charcoal in a city kitchen.

Ingredients (for marination) :

1. Mutton : 1 kg
2. Pumpkin : 1 cup, grated (or any meat tenderiser) 
3. Curd : 400 g
4. Turmeric : 2 tsp
5. Chilly powder : 2 tsp
6. Jeera powdered : 1/2 tsp
7. Dhania powdered : 1/2 tsp
8. Garam masala powdered : 2 to 3 tsp
9. Cardamom (whole) : 5 each of black and green
10. Cinnamon (whole) : 2 sticks
11. Clove (whole) : 5
12. Black pepper (whole) : 1/2 tsp
13. Salt : 2 tsp
14. Mint leaves : a few
15. Ghee : 4 to 5 tbsp
16. Onion : 3 big, chopped lengthwise and deep fried till golden crisp
17. Ginger paste : 2 tsp
18. Garlic paste : 2 tsp

Method :
Mix the above ingredients well keeping aside little fried onion for later use. Marinate for 8 hours or over night, in the fridge.

Ingredients (for cooking) :

20. Rice : 500 g, extra long super Basmati
21. Milk : 1/2 mug, hot
22. Saffron (Kesar) : 2 g
23. Salt : 2 tsp
24. Ghee : 4 tbsp
25. Wheat flour (Atta) : 1 cup

Method :

1. Cook rice with more water than needed, ghee and salt. Remove from fire after around 20 minutes when rice is half cooked. Drain the remaining water and leave in a perforated vessel/bowl.
2. Heat milk, remove from flame and add saffron. Leave for 20 minutes.
3. Knead little atta and water to make a smooth dough.

4. Put the meat along with the marinade in a heavy bottomed vessel. Layer with rice fried onion, kesar mixed milk and ghee (optional).
5. Seal the mouth of the vessel with dough. Cover lid.
6. Place a heavy iron tawa below the vessel/cooker while cooking.

7. Cook on high flame for 35 minutes, then 10 minutes on medium flame.
8. Put off gas and keep for 15 minutes before opening the lid.
9. Biryani goes well with raita. Boondi raita with this Dum Biryani was a perfect treat.