Lamb Biryani

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 45 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 lbs lamb loin, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 3 inches piece gingerroot, grated
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 2 tablespoons garam masala (an indian spice, you can probably find it with the spices at the store)
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 4 green chilies, finely chopped
• 3 tablespoons chopped mint
• 4 tablespoons ground coriander
• 2 1/2 cups basmati rice
• 4 onions, thinly sliced
• salt
• 1/2 cup oil
• 4 ounces butter, melted
• 8 ounces plain yogurt
• 1/2 teaspoon saffron thread, soaked in
• 2 tablespoons hot milk
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 1/3 cups whole wheat flour (barley, wheat, etc)
• 1 teaspoon salt

Recipe

• 1 mix the lamb in a bowl with the ginger, garlic, garam masala, chili powder, tumeric, chillies, mint and coriander. cover and refrigerate overnight.
• 2 the next day, put the sliced onion in a colander, sprinkle with salt to draw liquid out of the onions. discard liquid, rinse onions and pat dry.
• 3 heat oil and butter in a dutch oven, then fry onions until golden brown (about 10 minutes). remove onions and drain. pour off and reserve all but about 2 tbsp of the butter and oil.
• 4 fry the lamb in the dutch oven until well browned. add cooked onions and yogurt and cook on low for 40 minutes.
• 5 in a large saucepan, boil enough water to cover rice. add rice, return to the boil, and cook 5 minutes.
• 6 drain rice, spread on top of onions and lamb in dutch oven. drizzle with lemon juice, saffron/milk mixture, and the leftover butter and oil.
• 7 preheat the oven to 425 fahrenheit.
• 8 make a dough by adding a little water to the flour and 1 tsp salt. roll dough into a long, thin sausage shape, and press along the top rim of the dutch oven. when the lid is placed on this dough, it will form a seal between the lid and base of the dutch oven.
• 9 cook sealed dutch oven on high heat for 5 minutes before transferring to oven. bake in oven for 40 minutes.
• 10 remove from oven, break dough seal and enjoy.