Flavourful, elegant mutton yakhni pulao is so easy that you can whip it up for dinner, especially if you make it in a Pressure cooker. Fragrant rice, tender pieces of meat, this is fit for a celebration.
450GramsBasmati Riceapprox 2 cups, washed and soaked for 30 minutes
3Tablespoons Ghee
1TeaspoonCumin Seeds
4-5Cloves
½TeaspoonPeppercorns
2Green Cardamom
1Black Cardamom
2-3Green Chilliesslit
1inchCinnamon
1Bayleaf
2Onionssliced
Pinchof Hingasafoetida
1TablespoonGinger Garlic Paste
1TeaspoonFennel Powder
½TeaspoonJeera Powder
½CupCurd
1 ¼TeaspoonsSalt
Instructions
For the Bouquet Garni
Prep the bouquet garni by adding all the ingredients into a muslin or a cheesecloth and tying them up together. Keep aside.
For Mutton
Add mutton, bouquet garni, salt and water to a pressure cooker. Cook on high and after the first whistle, pressure cook on low for 20 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally
Remove the bouquet garni with tongs. Drain the remaining mutton and stock, reserving the mutton and stock (yakhni) separately. Squeeze out all the juices from the bouquet garni into the stock.
For the Pulao
Add ghee to a pressure cooker on medium high and allow it to heat up. Once hot, add cumin, cloves, peppercorn, cardamom, green chillies, cinnamon and bay leaf. Saute for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
Add sliced onions and fry on medium heat until golden brown, 2-4 minutes. Add ginger garlic paste, hing, fennel powder and jeera powder. Cook for 3-4 minutes on low heat, stirring frequently.
Add mutton and dry roast for 2-3 minutes. Add curd and cook stirring continuously for 3-4 minutes.
Add rice, salt and measure 3 ¼ cups of reserved stock (yakhni). Mix to combine. Pressure cook for 12 minutes on low. Let the pressure release naturally and serve hot.
Video
Notes
Use aged basmati rice that's labelled 'basmati' rather than 'long grain rice' which is not true basmati. True basmati has a beautiful aroma, and ageing makes the rice more tasty and gives you grains that remain separate while cooking.
Meat cut: Look for bone-in shoulder cut which has some fat and remains tender as the pulao cooks. The cooking time may seem short to some but if the mutton you use is of good quality, this cooking time is perfect.