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Prep time
40 minutes
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Cook time
2 hours
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Serves
6-8
Author Notes
My best friend and I have been on a quest for the past 2 months to make the ultimate biriyani. After making at least 12 batches, this is the recipe that we finally figured works well. This is based on the recipe from Kanammacooks.com. Ambur Star is a famous biriyani restaurant outside Chennai, in India. Having made this for my cousin who grew up eating that biriyani, she said that this was the closest to the biriyani she remembered from her childhood. Yes, this recipe takes time, but the end result is totally worth it.
Dagod phool, stone flower, or kalpasi is a type of lichen that is sometimes used in Indian food. Flavor-wise, it seems like the umami of South Indian food. You can find it on Amazon. One jar will last a lifetime. As for the goat meat, try to get goat leg meat. It has far fewer bones and makes for a much more enjoyable eating experience. The salt used is just your normal table salt. —George Philips
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Ingredients
- Masala paste
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3 inch
ginger, chopped
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20
cloves of garlic, smashed
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10
Thai green chilies
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1 tablespoon
dagad phool, also goes by stone flower or kalpasi
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1
cinnamon stick
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2
star anise
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6
green cardamom pods
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6
cloves
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5
small pieces of mace
- Goat curry
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2 cups
basmati rice
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10
Kashmiri red chilies or bydagi red chilies
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4 tablespoons
ghee
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2 tablespoons
peanut oil
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250 grams
thinly sliced shallots
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2
tomatoes, small to medium size
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2.75 teaspoons
salt (not kosher)
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.5 cups
loosely packed mint
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.5 cups
loosely packed coriander
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2.25 cups
water
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.5 cups
yogurt
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Juice from 1/2 a lime
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2 pounds
bone-in goat meat, leg preferable
Directions
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Wash rice until water runs clear and soak for 30 minutes.
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In a blender, blend all the ingredients listed under masala paste. Add water as needed to help it blend thoroughly.
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Roughly chop the tomatoes, coriander, and mint.
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Stem and deseed red chilies. Soak them in boiling water for 20 minutes, then grind into a paste in a blender, adding water as needed.
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Whisk together the water, yogurt, lime juice, 1 tsp salt, and Kashmiri chili paste
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Heat peanut oil and ghee together in a pressure cooker. If using an Instant Pot, select the high saute setting. Slice shallots and fry with 1/4 teaspoon salt until deeply caramelized.
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Add the masala paste and fry for 5 minutes
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Add the chopped tomatoes, coriander, mint, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook for 3-5 minutes
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Add the water-yogurt mixture and goat to the pressure cooker
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If using an Instant Pot, pressure cook on high for 26 minutes and quick release the pressure
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After the pressure has finished releasing, remove the goat pieces from the pressure cooker. Pour all the liquid and remaining solids (but not the goat) into a dutch oven, and add the remaining 1 teaspoon of salt.
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Bring liquid to a boil. Add the rice and goat, and cook on medium for 4 minutes
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Uncover and mix well. Cover it again and cook on low for 10 minutes.
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Move dutch oven off the burner and let steam, covered, for 20 minutes.
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Fluff and let cool for 5 minutes uncovered before serving
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