Ghee Rice and Kerala Style Mutton Curry ... Eid Mubarak

                                                          

The month long fasting has culminated in the celebration of Eid-ul-Fitr. It is a day which starts with prayer followed by meeting, greeting and gifting kith and kin. For us, it was a family get together along with i-ls :-)

For Eid, we usually will be making biryani, and this time it was my husband who asked me to try something different (no, he is not fed up of my biryanis yet :-) ). So we thought of making ghee rice and accompanied by mutton curry and chicken fry and of course the raita-papad-pickle.

My M-i-l is lead the kerala style mutton curry (she is an expert in this) preparation and I made the ghee rice.

Ghee rice is rice fried in clarified butter along with aromatic spices and then cooked. It is seasoned with fried onions and cashews which in turn makes this dish rich and festive. This is an authentic Malabar delicacy. This is usually served along with chicken curry or mutton curry.

Nadan mutton curry is our all time favorite. A curry which is simmered in the tempting aroma of spices. This is a simple mutton curry but yet very delicious. I hope you will enjoy this.

Ingredients:

1. Jeera Rice- 1Kg (4 Cups)
2. Onions- 1 no
3. Salt- as required
4. Cloves- 3 nos
5. Cinnamon- 2 sticks
6. Cardamom- 2 nos
7. Water- 4 Cups
8. Ghee- 2 tbsp
9. Cashew nuts- a handful

Method:

1. Heat ghee in a pressure cooker. Fry the cashews till light brown colour and keep it aside.
2. In the hot oil add cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and onions and fry till the onions turn translucent. In this add the washed and drained rice and stir for 2-3 minutes.
3. In this add 4 cups of water and pressure cook till the rice is cooked well. (I have pressure cooked for 1 whistle and lowered the flame for 3 minutes).
4. Steaming hot ghee rice is ready.

Nadan Mutton Curry:
Ingredients:

1. Mutton- 1 Kg
2. Red chilli powder- 1 tbsp
3. Garam masala powder- 2 tsp
4. Turmeric powder- 1tsp
5. Salt- as required
6. Button Onions- 250 gms
7. Green Chillies (chopped)- 3 nos
8. Ginger and Garlic paste- 1 tbsp
9. Curry Leaves- few
10. Coriander powder- 2 tbsp
11. Red Chilli powder- 1 tbsp
12. Turmeric powder- 1tsp
13. Garam masala powder- 1 tsp
14. Oil- 2 tbsp
15. salt- as required

Method:

1. Marinate the washed mutton with red chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder and salt. Keep this aside till we prepare the gravy.
2. Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add the chopped button onions, Green chillies, ginger and garlic paste and curry leaves. Stir well till the onions become light brown in colour.
3. Meanwhile heat a separate pan and roast the turmeric powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder and chilli powder till the raw smell disappears.
4. Add this powder mix along with the above onion mix and stir well. Add the marinated mutton and required amount of salt and mix well.
5. Close the cooker and keep it in medium heat till the mutton cooks well.