Mutton Biryani

Ingredients

• 3 cups (600 g) basmati rice, washed and soaked for 30 minutes
• 1 kg mutton with bone, in medium pieces
• 1 cup oil or ghee
• 3 onions, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
• 3 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 cup (250 g) yogurt, whisked
• 2 tsp salt, plus 2 tbsp for the rice water
• 2 tsp red chilli powder
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 tbsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• Whole spices: 2 bay leaves, 6 cloves, 10 black peppercorns, 2 cinnamon sticks, 4 green cardamoms, 1 black cardamom, 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 4 green chillies, a handful each of fresh mint and coriander
• A few strands of saffron or a pinch of yellow food colour in 3 tbsp warm milk

Missing something?

• No beef or mutton (gosht)? Use chicken (cook for less time).
• No rice? Use any other rice, or broken rice (cooks faster).
• No yogurt? Use milk with 1 tsp lemon juice, rested 10 minutes.
• No onion? Use spring onions, or a little onion powder (less depth).
• No tomato? Use 1 tbsp tomato paste per tomato, or 2 tbsp yogurt for tang.