Eid Mubarak to all of you! The air is filled with the joy and sounds of celebration and laughter as several mouthwatering dishes get prepared. As your loved ones gather around for feast and festivities, the highlight of your Eid al-Adha, also known as Bakra Eid, would definitely be the aromatic and delicious mutton biryani for Eid al-Adha. Layered with aromatic rice and flavourful mutton, this dish symbolises a blend of tradition and culinary delight. In fact, today is the perfect day to roll up your sleeves and make the perfect mutton biryani at home. Whether you are a pro at cooking or are a newbie in the kitchen, making mutton biryani is not that complicated when you get the right guidance. Here are 5 tips to keep in mind while cooking mutton biryani at home!
Also Read: When Is Bakrid 2024: Date, Significance, 5 Easy Biryani Recipes For Eid-Al-Adha Feast
Photo Credit: iStock
5 Tips To Make Perfect Mutton Biryani for Eid al-Adha At Home
1. Choose The Best Ingredients
Not just for Eid, but anytime you decide to make mutton biryani at home, make sure to choose quality ingredients. Look for fresh, tender mutton pieces, preferably from the leg or shoulder. This would make sure the pieces are succulent enough to absorb the marinade well. Also, keep in mind to cut the pieces evenly so that they cook evenly. This would also enhance the texture of the overall dish. For rice, choose basmati rice because of its long grains and aroma. Soak the rice 30 minutes before cooking, as it would help it cook more evenly and prevent it from breaking during cooking.
2. Prepare A Spicy Marination
To infuse the mutton with flavours, marinate it in a mixture of spices. Make a blend of yoghurt, ginger-garlic paste, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala and salt. This would infuse a deep flavour into it. For an extra dose of flavour, add a pinch of nutmeg powder to the marination. After mixing the marination with the mutton, let it sit for at least 4-6 hours or overnight if possible. This would make the meat tender as the flavours penetrate deeply, making every bite infused with flavours.
3. Perfect The Rice Cooking
To get the perfect blend of flavours and meat, parboil the rice. In simple terms, only cook the rice until it is 70-80 per cent done. This stage is important and the rice grains should be firm yet partially cooked, as they will finish up cooking during the dum process. This will prevent rice from getting mushy and keep the grains separate. While boiling the rice, add whole spices like green cardamoms, bay leaves, cloves, and cinnamon to enhance the flavour of your mutton biryani. These spices will make the rice fragrant and aromatic.
Photo Credit: iStock
4. Layer And Cook On Dum
Biryani is layered in a proper manner to cook it to perfection. Take a heavy-bottomed pot, and start with a layered marinated mutton. Then add a layer of partially cooked rice. Continue this process until the final layer is rice. This would ensure an even distribution of textures and flavours. In fact, between the meat and rice layers, add fried onions, chopped mint and coriander leaves. To get that signature biryani colour and aroma, add a dash of saffron-infused milk or food colour mixed with milk over the top layer. Cover the pot with a lid and seal it tightly using dough to trap the steam. Place it on a tawa on low flame and cook it for about 40-50 minutes.
5. Let It Rest
Once your mutton biryani is cooked, allow it to rest for 15-20 minutes. This is important as it would allow the flavours to infuse and the biryani to settle. This process would make it easier for you to serve biryani. Once done, gently mix the layers without breaking the grains of rice. Make sure to use very light hands while doing so as it could also debone the meat. Serve your mutton biryani with raita and enjoy!
Also Read: Bakrid 2024: Beyond Biryani And Kebab – Try These 7 Delicious Recipes For Dawat
Find an easy recipe for Mutton Biryani here.
