Mutton Yakhini Pulao From The Valley

This mutton pulao is a speciality from the Valley of Kashmir. Yakhini is basically a Kashmiri recipe for mutton stew. This pulao recipe gets its name from the fact that it is cooked in mutton stew. There are many types of mutton pulao that you must have tasted. But the Kashmiri recipe for this mutton pulao gives it an unique taste.

Pulao recipes are time consuming and this one is not an exception. Just like other traditional Kashmiri recipes, it needs lots of attention to details like how much to cook teh rice, how long to cook the meat etc. Try this mutton pulao in the weekend when you have some time to spare. However, it is such a delicious dish that it can be a complete meal in itself. Don't really need a curry to go with it.

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Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Cooking Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

• Lamb pieces- 10 (500 grams)
• Peppercorns- 10
• Cloves- 5
• Green cardamom pods- 5
• Nutmeg- 1/2
• Star anise- 1
• Cumin seeds- 1tsp
• Coriander seeds- 1tsp
• Cinnamon sticks- 1 inch
• Bay leaf- 1
• Red chilli powder- 1tbsp
• Ginger garlic paste- 2tbsp
• Basmati rice- 150 grams
• Onions- 1+1 (sliced)
• White oil- 2tbsp
• Salt- as per taste

Procedure

1. Take a clean cotton cloth and place all the whole spices on it.

2. The whole spices would include peppercorns, cloves, star anise, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, cumin seeds, coriander seeds and bay leaf.

3. Now tie up the cloth in the form of a small bundle. Place this in the pressure cooker with 7 cups of water.

4. Add the lamb pieces along with the ginger garlic paste in the pressure cooker.

5. Sprinkle salt and red chilli powder from the top. Close the lid and cook for the duration of 4 whistles.

6. Meanwhile take a pan over high flame and fry one sliced onion in it. Fry it till the onion rings become crisp and then keep aside.

7. When the mutton stew gets cooked, take out the pieces of lamb from it. Keep the stew separately.

8. In a deep bottomed pan, fry the remaining onion. Add rice, some salt and the stew in the pan.

9. Cover and cook for 10 minutes on medium flame. Make sure that the rice is just perfectly done; not overcooked or undercooked.

10. Now add the cooked lamb pieces to it and garnish with the fried onions.

You can serve Yakhini mutton pulao with raita and some onion slices for an elaborate meal.