Mutton Donne Biryani (Karnataka Cuisine)

 

          Check out this amazing Mutton Donne Biryani from Karnataka, that is a must try recipe. Donne in Kannada means a small bowl made of palm leaves. As this Biryani is served in a bowl, hence the name Donne Biryani. The specialty of this biryani is the use of short grain rice called Seeraga Samba rice. 

          This recipe also uses a green masala paste in which the mutton and rice is cooked in an open pot in a dum style, thus imparting an aromatic fragrance. However, I prepared this yummy biryani in a pressure cooker and cutting short the time. 

          Donne Biryani can be prepared using either chicken or mutton. It is actually a street food, served in small palm leaf bowls, accompanied with a boiled egg and raita / salad. It is a one-pot meal that is so comforting and delicious. 

          Being a resident of UAE, I was not able to procure these typical bowls, so served this biryani in earthen ware bowls. So go ahead and prepare this unique biryani by checking out the step by step pictorial recipe.

Marination - 

• 600 gms. mutton with bones 
• salt to taste 
• 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. red chili powder
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1/2 cup yoghurt

Green Masala Paste - 

• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1" cinnamon stick
• 2-3 green cardamoms
• 4-5 cloves 
• 1/2 tsp. peppercorns
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 1 tsp. fennel seeds
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3-4 green chilies
• 1 tsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1 cup coriander leaves, roughly chopped
• 1 cup mint leaves, roughly chopped

Mutton Curry - 

• 1/2 tsp. roasted coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp. roasted cumin powder
• 1/2 tsp. roasted fennel powder

Biryani - 

• 1 cup Seeraga Samba / Jeera rice, soaked for 30 minutes
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 2 tbsp. ghee
• 1" cinnamon stick
• 3 cardamom 
• 5 cloves
• 1 mace
• 2 star anise
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 onion, sliced
• green masala paste
• 1 tomato chopped
• salt to taste
• 1 tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 & 3/4 cups gravy

          Marination - 

          Marinate the mutton with all the mentioned ingredients for 2 hours. 

          Green Masala Paste - 

         Heat oil in a pan and sauté the cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, peppercorns, cumin seeds and fennel seeds for a few seconds. 

          Add the onion and the green chilies. Stir fry till light brown. Add the ginger-garlic paste and sauté till the raw smell disappears. 

          Add the coriander and mint leaves. Sauté till they are wilted. Keep aside to cool down.

          Then transfer to a mixer-grinder and blend along with some water into a smooth paste. Keep aside. 

        

          Mutton Curry - 

         Transfer the marinated mutton into a pan. Add roasted coriander powder, roasted fennel powder and roasted cumin powder.

          Mix well and sauté till dry. Add 2 cups water and pressure cook for 10-12 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. Separate the mutton from the gravy.

          Biryani - 

          Heat oil and ghee in a pressure cooker. Temper with all the whole garam masalas (cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, mace, star anise and bay leaves). Sauté for a few seconds.

          Now add the onion and continue to sauté till light brown. Then add the prepared green masala paste. Sauté till the oil separates.

          Add the chopped tomato and stir fry till it is mashed and the oil separates. 

          Then add the cooked mutton pieces and mix everything well. Add the soaked rice, 1 & 3/4 cups gravy, lemon juice and salt to taste. 

           Pressure cook for 2 whistles. Let it remain covered for 15 minutes. Then fluff it up with a spoon. Serve hot with boiled egg and salad / raita.

Note - 

1.  In case the said small variety of rice is unavailable, then feel free to use basmati rice or any other small variety.

2.  The homemade spices and herbs that are ground and used in this biryani gives a nice flavor to the dish.

3.  In addition to coriander and mint leaves, a handful of fenugreek leaves can also be used.  

    Marinate the mutton with all the mentioned ingredients for 2 hours. 

     Heat oil & sauté cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, peppercorns, cumin

     seeds and fennel seeds for a few seconds. 

        Add onion & green chilies. Sauté till light brown. Add the coriander 

        and mint leaves. Sauté till they are wilted. Keep aside to cool down.

        Add ginger-garlic paste & give it a mix. Sauté for a minute or till

        the raw smell disappears.

      Add coriander & mint leaves. Sauté till they are wilted. Keep aside

      to cool down.

       Transfer to a mixer-grinder & blend along with some water into a

        smooth paste. Keep aside. 

        

Mutton Curry - Transfer the marinated mutton into a pan. Add roasted coriander powder, roasted fennel powder & roasted cumin powder. Mix well & sauté till dry. 

                    Add 2 cups water.

         Pressure cook for 10-12 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. 

     Heat oil & ghee in a pressure cooker. Temper with all the whole garam

     masalas. Sauté for a few seconds.

                 Add the onion & continue to sauté till light brown. 

                Add the green masala paste. Sauté till the oil separates.

             Add the tomato & stir fry till it is mashed & the oil separates. 

                  Add the cooked mutton pieces & mix everything well. 

                   Add the soaked rice, 

                   1 and 3/4 cups gravy, lemon juice & salt to taste. 

         Pressure cook for 2 whistles. Let it remain covered for 15 minutes. 

         Fluff it up with a spoon. 

                    Serve hot with boiled egg and salad / raita.

Champaran Mutton Handi (Mutton Curry - Bihari style)

 

         Check out this signature dish of Champaran in Bihar and is a specialty of that region. This easy and delicious mutton curry is cooked in an earthen pot. It is also called Ahuna Mutton. Ahuna literally translates to handi in the local lingo. This is a very unique recipe that is a must try. You can serve it with rice, naan, tandoori roti or any Indian bread. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this regional delicacy.

         Typically, this handi recipe is slow cooked over charcoal in a dum style. The handi is  occasionally shaken during the process of cooking. Water is not added as the juices from the mutton and the onion helps it to cook to perfection.

         The vegetarian version of this particular dish is prepared with raw jackfruit (kathal). The spices used in this recipe are the normal ones, except for one star ingredient - a whole garlic bulb that is also marinated. 

          This awesome dish is cooked in mustard oil for an authentic flavour. The oil is first heated to smoking point, cooled and then used. However, I skipped it and instead used raw mustard oil to marinate for some pungency. 

• 500 gms. mutton with bones, curry cut
• 4-5 onions, sliced
• 1 tbsp. ginger-garlic paste 
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. Kashmiri red chili powder
• 1 tsp. red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. pepper powder
• 1 tbsp. coriander-cumin powder
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• 2-3 bay leaves
• 2 green cardamoms
• 1 big cardamom
• 4 cloves
• 1/2 cup yoghurt
• 2-3 green chilies, slit
• 1/3 cup mustard oil
• 1 whole garlic bulb
• 1 tbsp. ghee
• wheat (atta) dough

           In a bowl, combine all the ingredients (except ghee). Mix well and marinate overnight in the refrigerator.

          Grease a handi with ghee and transfer the marinated mutton. Cover with a lid and seal the edges with some atta dough. Cook on a high flame for 2-3 minutes.

          Then place the handi on a hot tawa and cook on a low flame for an hour. Keep shaking the handi at intervals so that it does not stick to the bottom.

          When done, switch off the flame and keep it aside for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the foil and give it a gentle mix. Serve with rice or any Indian bread.

                      In a bowl, combine all the ingredients (except ghee). Mix well & marinate 

                      overnight in the refrigerator.

                                  Grease a handi with ghee & transfer the marinated mutton. 

                     Cover with a lid & then seal the edges with some atta dough. Cook on a 

                     high flame for 2-3 minutes. Then place the handi on a hot tawa & cook 

                     on a low flame for an hour.

                                    Carefully remove the lid & give it a gentle mix. 

                                  Serve with rice or any Indian bread.

Mutton Rezala

 

          This is a traditional and a very popular Bengali style fragrant Mutton curry cooked in a creamy yogurt based gravy. There are many versions to this delicacy, but the end result is simply mouth watering. With a slight aroma coming from the rose water and the nutty flavour from the almond-Cashew paste, this is surely a connoisseurs delight. 

       

           It is yummy and mildly spiced. However, one thing is for sure - The taste is simply divine. Relish it with plain biryani, pulao, naan or Tandoori roti. So go ahead and give it a try by checking out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare it.

Marination - 

• 500 gms. Mutton on bones, cubed
• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 cup yoghurt
• 1 tbsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tbsp. raw papaya paste
• salt to taste
• pinch of nutmeg powder
• 1 tsp. coriander powder
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1/2 tsp. pepper powder

To grind - 

• 8-10 almonds, soaked for an hour
• 8-10 cashews, soaked for an hour
• 1/2 cup milk

Tempering - 

• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tbsp. ghee
• 2 whole dry red chilies
• 1-2 bay leaves
• 4 green cardamoms
• 6 cloves
• 1" cinnamon stick
• 1 mace

Other ingredients - 

• 2 green chilies
• 1 tsp. coriander leaves to garnish 

           Grind the almonds and cashews along with the milk into a paste. Keep aside.

          Marinate the mutton with all the mentioned ingredients for 4-5 hours or preferably overnight.

          Heat oil and ghee in a cooker and temper with all the mentioned ingredients under "Tempering". Sauté for a few seconds.

          Add the marinated mutton and simmer on a low flame till dry. Add 1 cup water and pressure cook for 15 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle.

          When it has cooled down, add the almond-cashew paste and green chilies. Mix everything well and simmer, covered for 5-10 minutes or till you get the desired consistency. 

          Switch off the flame and add the rose water. Give it a stir and garnish with coriander leaves. Serve with plain biryani, pulao, naan or tandoori roti. 

                     Marinate the mutton with all the ingredients for 4-5 hours or preferably 

                     overnight.

                   Heat oil & ghee in a cooker & temper with all the mentioned ingredients under                                 "Tempering". Sauté for a few seconds.

                                   Add the marinated mutton & simmer on low flame till dry. 

                    Add 1 cup water & pressure cook for 15 minutes on a low flame after the

                    first whistle.

                    Then add the almond-cashew paste & green chilies. Mix well & simmer, 

                    covered for 5-10 minutes or till you get the desired consistency. 

                                Switch off the flame & add rose water. Give it a stir.

                                 Garnish with coriander leaves. 

                    Serve with steamed rice, plain biryani, pulao, naan or tandoori roti. 

Soya Mutton Curry

 

             If you are in the mood to try out something different with the mutton gravy, then do make this Soya Mutton. I added some leftover soybean curry along with the usual spices and surprisingly it turned out real yummy, just the way I wanted. 

          It is a great party recipe and is apt for special occasions. This recipe is very easy, where you just have to marinate, simmer and pressure cook. Enjoy it with steamed rice, jeera rice, pulao, naan, tandoori roti or just plain chapattis. So check out the step by step pictorial recipe to prepare this fusion recipe.

          As I was on the lookout for a new version of a mutton curry, other than the usual stuff, I hit upon the idea of including the leftover soybean curry. You can also use some soaked & drained soybean. However, make sure to marinate it overnight for a juicy delicacy. 

          I kept it very simple with just 3 easy steps that you need to follow - marinate, simmer & pressure cook and in no time you have a new creation to be devoured with any form of rice or Indian bread. Bon Appetit!!!

Ingredients - 

• 500 gms. mutton with bones, curry cut
• 1 large potato, cut into half
• 1 & 1/2 cups leftover cooked soybean curry
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 tbsp. ghee
• 1" cinnamon stick
• 1-2 bay leaves
• 2-3 green cardamoms
• 4-5 cloves
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 1 tbsp. coriander leaves, chopped
• few onion rings 

Marination - 

• 1 tbsp. ginger-garlic paste
• salt to taste 
• 2 tbsp. red chili powder
• 1 tsp. turmeric powder
• 1 tbsp. coriander powder
• 1 tsp. cumin powder
• 1 tsp. garam masala powder
• 1/2 cup yoghurt

          Marinate the mutton with all the mentioned ingredients overnight or preferably 3-4 hours. 

          Heat oil and ghee in a pan. Fry the potatoes till light brown. Keep aside. 

          Temper the same oil + ghee with bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamoms and cloves. 

          Add the onion and sauté till light brown. 

          Then add the tomatoes and cook, covered till it is mashed. 

          Now add the marinated mutton and sauté till oil separates.

          Now add the leftover cooked soybean curry and mix well.

          Then add the fried potatoes and 1 cup water. 

          Pressure cook for 15-20 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. 

         When done, garnish with coriander leaves and onion rings.

         Serve with steamed rice, jeera rice, pulao, naan, tandoori roti or just plain chapattis. 

                     Marinate the mutton with all the mentioned ingredients overnight or 

                     preferably 3-4 hours. 

                        Heat oil & ghee in a pan. Fry the potatoes till light brown. Keep aside. 

 

                     Temper the same oil + ghee with bay leaves, cinnamon, cardamoms & cloves. 

                                   Add the onion and sauté till light brown. 

                                  Then add the tomatoes and cook, covered till it is mashed. 

                                  Now add the marinated mutton and sauté till oil separates.

                                  Now add the leftover cooked soybean curry & mix well.

                                 Then add the fried potatoes and 1 cup water. 

                          Pressure cook for 15-20 minutes on a low flame after the first whistle. 

                                  When done, garnish with coriander leaves and onion rings.

                       Serve with steamed rice, jeera rice, pulao, naan, tandoori roti or just 

                       plain chapattis.