Mutton Biryani Recipe - The Hyderabadi dum biryani recipe is made by layering and cooking meat and rice with lots of flavors. It's simple and I have broken down into steps that will help you to make it without the overwhelming feeling. Making Mutton Biryani wouldn't get any easier!!!
Add yogurt to another bowl and add the ingredients listed under the mutton marinade. Mix well and add it to the mutton and mix well again. Add coriander leaves + mint. Add fried onions if using storebought or add it later when you are about to cook the meat. Cover and keep this aside from 1 hour to 12 hours. (If longer than an hour, place in the refrigerator)
Pro Tip: If you are in a hurry, you can also marinate for 1 hour, but the longer your marinate, the flavor gets it, and the meat becomes tender. (If you are making biryani for dinner, marinate in the morning, and if you are preparing for the afternoon, marinate the previous night.)
Wash and soak the rice for 30 minutes to an hour.
Meanwhile, gather the ingredients needed for assembly and for cooking rice in separate plates for ease.
Place a dutch oven or a large non-stick pot big enough to hold the mutton and rice on medium-high heat. Add 1/8 cup oil + 2 tablespoons ghee in a pan.
Fry the cashews till golden brown and keep aside. After that, add the onions to the same pan and fry on medium heat till golden brown and crisp. Drain and keep aside and reserve the oil to make biryani.
Add the marinated meat. (add 3/4 cup fried onions if you did not add during the marination process) Stir and let it cook till 75 % done and till oil is seen on top. Taste and adjust the salt if necessary.
While the meat is cooking, bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Add salt as needed (When you taste the water the salt should be slightly more than what you usually need).
Add all the ingredients mentioned in TO COOK RICE to the water, and then add the soaked and drained rice and let the water come to a boil. Taste and adjust the flavor of the water as needed. Salt should be slightly more than what you normally have.
Reduce the heat and stir the rice and cook it only till only half-cooked (When you take a bite you will feel it will be underdone in the center. It is a crucial step or else the rice will be mushy.
To the partially cooked mutton, add 1/2 of the cooked rice and half of the fried onions + coriander leaves + mint leaves. Add the remaining rice and fried onions + coriander leaves + mint leaves + 2 green chilly. sprinkle reserved rice water on top followed by saffron milk. Sprinkle a few drops of food color if using.
Add a tablespoon of ghee and fried cashews.
There are three ways you can cover. 1. With an aluminum foil: Place an aluminum foil on top and slightly seal and place a lid on top. 2. Seal with any kind of dough available. 3. Place the lid and keep something heavy on the top so that the steam does not escape.
Place a girdle or pan on the stove and transfer the biryani pot on top. Reduce the heat to minimum and let it cook for 40 to 50 minutes.
To check for doneness, open the lid and slide a laddle along the side of the pan and scoop out the meat. If there is no water content and the mutton is tender, it means the biriyani is ready.
To make the process easier I have divided into steps:
For Thick Yogurt: Lay a kitchen paper towel or muslin cloth in a big strainer. Add 1 cup of yogurt and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes.