Mutton biryani is a sensible and delicious dinner option for large crowds. Biryani is a dish no one can ever resist!

Equipment: Hart 250 mm J7 Pot & Hart Large Roaster
Prep time: 5 hours 10 mins
Cooking time: 2 hours
Serves: 4 people

Ingredients

750 g stewing mutton or lamb

For the Marinade:
¼ cup fresh coriander, chopped (65 ml)
2 tsp turmeric (10 ml)
2 tsp garam masala (10 ml)
2 tsp crushed ginger (10 ml)
2 tsp crushed garlic (10 ml)
¼ cup dry biryani spice mix or paste (65 ml)
2 cups buttermilk (500 ml)

For the Rice Mixture:
1½ cups long-grain or Basmati rice (300 g)
1 cup brown lentils (210 g)
2 tbsp oil (30 ml)
2 onions, peeled and sliced
4 medium potatoes,
peeled and quartered
2 cinnamon sticks
1 cup mutton stock (250 ml)

Method

1. Cut mutton into bite-sized pieces and place in a bowl.
2. Mix all marinade ingredients, and pour into the bowl to coat the mutton.
3. Marinate for 5 hours.
4. In a large saucepan, simmer mutton in marinade for 30 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
5. In the meantime, cook rice and lentils in separate pots according to instructions on respective packets.
6. In a large saucepan, heat oil and fry onions until transparent.
7. Add potatoes and cinnamon sticks; fry until potatoes are golden.
8. Add rice and lentils; mix through.
9. Add mutton with sauce to rice mixture.
10. Preheat oven to 160°C.
11. Transfer mixture to a large roaster, pour over stock, cover with lid and cook in the oven for 1 hour.