Hyderabadi Biryani

• Lamb pieces- 3 cups
• Rice- 3 cups
• Onions- 3 (sliced)
• Dalda or ghee- 7 tablespoons
• Ginger- 1/2 inch piece (grated)
• Garlic- 5 cloves (crushed)
• Green chilies- 4 (finely chopped)
• Cumin powder- 1 tsp
• Coriander powder- 1 tsp
• Cardamom pods- 2
• Cinnamon- 1 piece
• Cloves- 4
• Poppy seeds- 1 tsp (roasted & coarsely powdered)
• Lemon- 1
• Fresh mint leaves- 8
• Plain yoghurt- 1 cup or 2 tablespoons vinegar
• Salt

Heat 2 tablespoons of dalda or ghee and fry the onions and garlic until golden brown. Add rice, cardamom pods and 4 cups of hot water. Cover and cook over medium heat until half cooked. Heat rest of the ghee and fry the lamb pieces with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, green chilies, cumin powder, coriander powder, poppy seed powder, salt, mint leaves and the beaten yoghurt. Cook for 10 minutes. Add lemon juice and lower the heat. Stir constantly and cook until it becomes a thick gravy. Remove from fire.

Mix this lamb mixture with rice. Cover and bake for 20 minutes at 325°F or until the rice is fully cooked. Serve hot.

Serves: 6