Kerala Style Beef Biryani

Who doesn't like Biryani? The multi layered rice , succulent meat , spices and herbs , mix of beautiful things? Well We are a big fan...

Everybody has their own versions of Biryani , just like languages in India , some recipes formulated by their favorite restaurant flavor and aroma...While growing up , my bro used to get me this wonderful Beef biryani from a thattukada in Changancherry and I still love it , so does the one from a tiny hotel opposite parel palli..OOh ...Drool..drool..

Recipe for Kerala Style Beef Biriyani

Ingredients:-
For Rice
Basmati Rice - 2 cup
Cinnamon - 2 pieces
Cloves - 5 pieces
Cardamom - 5 pieces
Ghee - 3 tsp
Bay leaves - 1
Salt to taste
Lime juice - 1 tsp
Hot water - 4 1/2 cup
For Beef Masala
Beef - 1/2 kg ( cut into big pieces)
Onion thinly sliced - 2 cup
Green chilli - 4
Ginger chopped - a big piece
Garlic - 7-8 cloves
Tomato chopped - 1
Yogurt/curd- 1/2 cup
Chili powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 1 tsp
turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
Pepper powder - 1/2 tsp
( Instead of all these powders add 1 or 2 tablespoons of store bought Biriyani Masala )
Garam masala -1-2 tea spoon
Thin coconut milk - 1 cup
Mace - 2
bay leaves- 1
cloves-3
Oil
Mint and coriander leaves chopped - 2 cups( or use 2-3 table spoon store bought mint & cilantro chutney)
For garnishing
cashew nuts - 2 tsp
raisins - 2tsp
Onion finely chopped - 1 medium


How to make Kerala style Beef Biryani
Clean and cut the beef and marinate it with salt, curd  1/2 tsp of garam masala and pepper powder and keep aside for atleast 30 minutes

Soak the rice for 15 minutes and drain it well.

Heat ghee in a cooking vessel and add whole cloves,cinnamon sticks, cardamom and bay leaves and fry for a minute  

Add the rice and fry it for 3-4 minutes. Pour in 4 1/2 cups of water ,salt and lime juice and cook it covered till it is done .Set aside the rice

In a coffe grinder or blender, Grind Green chillies, ginger and garlic to a paste

Heat ghee in a pan and fry Onions, cashew nuts and raisins , one by one until they turn brown and keep aside

In the remaining ghee sauté  Thinly sliced onions, until they turn golden brown. Now stir in the ginger-chilli paste and fry it for 2-3 minutes.

Add chili powder, coriander powder,turmeric powder, or the Biryani masala , garam masala and fry it for 2 minutes

Now stir in the chopped tomatoes ,  mace , bay leaves , cloves,corinader leaves and mint leaves.

Add the marinated beef pieces and combine it well. pour in the thin coconut milk and salt.

Transfer the entire content to a pressure cooker and cook for 2-3 whistles or until the meat is cooked well. if the gravy is loose , slow cook it until the gravy is very thick or a lil dry

Now take a baking dish and brush it with some ghee or butter

Spread a layer of rice in the bottom and beef on the top.arrange the rice and the gravy this way.Garnish with fried onions, cashews and raisins.Cover it with an aluminium foil.

Preheat oven to 350 degress and bake this for 20 minutes( if you are using a microwave, arrange the rice and gravy in layers in a microwave safe dish,cover it with a microwave safe lid and cook it for 10 minutes. On stove top arrange it in a vessel ,cover it with a lid ,and keep it on the top of a heavy tawa and heat it for 10-15 minutes.)
Veal Biryani can also be made the same way..

Serve with chutney and pickle