Mutton Pulao

Mother’s meals were never lavish and she used the simplest of ingredients, yet her food evokes some of the happiest memories of our childhood.This Sunday I couldn’t help but get caught up in my own food nostalgia. Because there can be a lot of emotion tucked away inside of our food memories. The digging into succulent pieces of well done mutton mixed with fragrant rice, as we chat sitting around the dining table… there was never a rush to get up and go away…

Sunday Mutton Pulao

A no fuss-few ingredients recipe for a delectable, easy to make pulao!

2 cups basmati rice
750 grams mutton on the bone
2 onions sliced very fine
2 potatoes cut in large cubes
5-6 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups water
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon cumin
4 tablespoons oil
Salt

Tie in a piece of muslin cloth: 2 large cardamoms, 4 small cardamoms, 2” piece cinnamon, few peppercorns, and few cloves.

Place washed mutton in a pressure cooker. Add 4 cups water and the whole spice potli.
Cook for about 4-5 whistles.
Cool, remove potli,strain stock and set aside.
Heat oil in a heavy bottom vessel.Add cumin.
Sauté onions till very light brown, and then add garlic. Cook 2 minutes.
Add mutton pieces-stir.Add potatoes. Season with salt and garam masala.
Put in the rice and stir, careful not to break the grains.
Add 4 cups stock and bring to a boil. Cover with a well fitting lid. Lower heat to a minimum.
Cook till rice is done.
Serve hot with an onion-tomato-mint raita…