Guest Post : Thalassery Mutton Dum Biriyani from Rafeeda of The Big Sweet Tooth

It’s truly an honor to be sharing today's guest post which comes from a very sweet person and wonderful blogger, Rafeeda. Rafeeda is a working woman, mom of two cute little girls and an active blogger at The Big Sweet Tooth where she shares traditional Indian recipes & sweet treats with beautiful write-ups. Can you believe she has done many guest posts in a short span of time. I really admire her efforts and wonder how she manages all that! When I contacted her to share some traditional Eid-ul-Adha recipe over here, she graciously accepted the guest post offer. Let's check out how she celebrates Eid and what she makes especially for her family :)

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Salaam to all the readers of Simply Sweet and Savory…

When Ambreen emailed me with a request for a meat related delicacy served during Eid, I couldn’t say know to her. Who would be able to say “no” to the simply sweet Ambreen? J Amid short notice, though I rummaged through my drafts, I was not able to find much of recipes related to mutton or beef, mainly because it is something cooked when you are really in a mood to or there is an occasion, and yes, occasions like Eid which call for some grand food!

I guess I’ll start with a little introduction about myself. I am Rafeeda, who blogs at The Big Sweet Tooth . A working mother, with two little sweethearts, who looks at cooking as a perfect stress-buster – this is the best way to sum up what I am! Cooking started something as a chore and slowly bloomed to be one of my favorite pastimes as of now. Even though my cooking is very much to please the taste buds of my live-in family, which includes my parents and brother, I love to explore and try making different dishes, which may be accepted.

Zarda ( Sweet Yellow Rice )

Zarda ( Sweet Yellow Rice ) ... Zarda is a traditional Pakistani / Indian sweet rice dish with dried fruits & nuts. The name Zarda is derived from the Persian and Urdu word 'zard' meaning 'yellow'. It is a popular dessert on weddings and also distributed during Islamic festivals and religious occasions.


Zarda ( Sweet Yellow Rice )
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Serves : 4 - 6


Ingredients :

• 250 gm.  Basmati or Sella rice
• Water, as required ( for boiling rice )
• Yellow or orange food color, as required

Chicken Biryani

Chicken Biryani ... A world-renowned rice dish made with boiled rice and a thick chicken curry, flavored with spices. Both rice and chicken are cooked separately, then layered and cooked over low heat until fully done. Enjoy this masalay dar biryani!

Chicken Biryani
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Ingredients :

For Chicken :

• 1/2 cup cooking oil / ghee
• 250 gm.  onions, sliced
• 250 gm.  tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 1 cup yogurt

Murgh Yakhni Pulao ( Chicken Pilaff ) & Award

Murgh Yakhni Pulao ( Chicken Pilaff ) ... A delicious rice dish cooked in chicken stock with green chillies, tomatoes and spices. 

Murgh Yakhni Pulao ( Chicken Pilaff )

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Serves :  4

Ingredients :

For stock :

• 500 to 750 grams.  chicken pieces
• 5 - 6 cups water
• 1 tsp.  salt
• 1 bulb of garlic

Mutton Yakhni Pulao (Mutton Pilaf)

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Mutton Yakhni Pulao ( Mutton Pilaf ) ... A flavorful rice dish cooked in mutton stock! First, a stock is prepared with mutton, onion, garlic & spices. Then, the rice is cooked in mutton stock  with fried onion, yogurt, whole spices & green chillies. This dish can be made with lamb, beef, or chicken.

Sorry friends for not visiting your blogs regularly. We are facing the worst electricity crisis here. I'm really missing your wonderful posts. Hope things get better soon so that I can check your wonderful posts! Thank you for your visits & sweet comments :)

Eid Greetings & Firni ( Rice flour & Milk Pudding )

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Eid-ul-Fitr is a festival that marks the end of the Holy month of Ramadan. This joyous day is celebrated to give thanks for the blessings of Ramadan. Muslims attend the congregational Eid prayer service which is held in the morning. They wear new clothing, cook delicious food and invite friends and neighbors to celebrate with them. Fasting during Ramadan inspires sympathy for the hungry and needy, and encourages Muslims to donate generously to the poor.

Traditionally, Sheer Khurma ( Milk with Dates) is prepared by Muslims on Eid ul-Fitr in South Asian countries especially Pakistan & India. This special dish is served on the morning of Eid day in the family after the Eid prayer as breakfast, and throughout the day to all the visiting guests.

I'll post its recipe on next Eid Insha-Allah ( I'm still away on vacation, this is a scheduled post ), but here is the recipe of Firni which is also prepared on Eid.

Firni ( Rice flour & Milk Pudding ) is one of the most popular Pakistani dessert after Kheer ( Milk & Rice Dessert ). In Firni, ground rice is used instead of whole rice grain. Its texture is smooth & silky. The addition of khoya makes it more rich & delicious :)

Wholesome Rice ( Macaroni Chicken Veggies Fried Rice )

Wholesome Rice ( Macaroni Chicken Veggies Fried Rice ) ... Healthy rice dish, full of veggies, chicken & macaroni. You can also try this with different vegetables of your choice. Get creative & enjoy!

Qaus-e-qazah or Rainbow Zarda

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Zarda is a traditional Pakistani dessert. It is usually made by boiling rice in the water along with orange food color. Then cooked in a sugar syrup along with nuts.
Qaus-e-qazah or Rainbow Zarda is made slightly different.

Spicy Chicken Biryani and Awards

Hot n Spicy Chicken Biryani .... Who doesn't love biryani? I'm a huge biryani fan. This was a bit too spicy for me, but hopefully you'll like this recipe :)

Green Vegetables Rice

A delicious rice dish ... A mix of green vegetables and boiled rice, stir- fried & flavored with sauces and garnished with omelet strips.

Green Vegetables Rice
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*  Prep. Time : 15 minutes
*  Cook Time : 25 - 30 minutes
*  Serves : 2

• 125 gm. uncooked rice
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 - 4 tbsp. oil
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds
• 2 green chillies, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup spring onion, sliced
• 1/2 cup cabbage, finely sliced
• 1/2 cup capsicum / green bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup green peas, boiled
• 2 tbsp. fresh mint leaves, chopped
• 1 tbsp. vinegar
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce 
• 2 tbsp. chilli sauce
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• Salt to taste

• Boil rice with salt in boiling water until the rice is tender.
• Drain water and keep aside.
• Beat egg with salt n pepper; add spring onions just to add color.
• Heat ( 1 tbsp. ) oil in a frying pan.
• Pour in egg mixture and swirl pan to make a thin omelet. Cook until egg is just set.
• Remove and cut into thin strips. Keep aside.
• Heat the oil in saucepan. Add white part of the spring onions; stir-fry for 2 minutes.
• Add cumin seeds and green chillies; stir-fry them for about 1 minute.
• Add capsicum, green peas, cabbage, mint.
• Add salt, black pepper, vinegar, soy sauce, chilli sauce; stir well.
• Let them cook for ( 3 - 4 minutes ) till the vegetables are slightly tender.

• Finally add boiled rice to it and gently fold in the vegetables to mix well.
• Adjust the seasonings according to your flavor and preference.
• Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with fried egg strips.

 

 

This goes to the event Food Palette - Green , an event by Torview

Thank you for stopping by! Enjoy!!! 

Chicken Biryani

 

This is a delicious Pakistani/Indian rice dish which is often reserved for very special occasions.It has a lengthy preparation, but the work is definitely worth it.

Chicken Biryani

* Prep. Time : 30 minutes
* Cook Time : 90 minutes
* Serves : 8

Chicken:

• 3/4 cup oil
• 3 large onions, sliced
• 250 gm tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 1 cup yogurt
• 2 tbsp ginger & garlic paste
• 1 kg chicken, cut into medium sized pieces
• 3 green cardamoms
• 1 large black cardamom
• 5 cloves
• 8 whole black pepper
• 2 inch piece of cinnamon stick
• 1 tbsp cumin seeds
• 2 tbsp red chillies powder
• 2 tbsp coriander powder
• 1 1/2 tbsp salt
• 10-12 dried plums

Rice :

• 1 kg rice
• 1 large cardamom
• 2 inch piece of cinnamon stick
• 3 cloves
• 5 whole black pepper
• salt, to taste
• water, as required

Layers:

• 2 tomatoes,cut in round slices
• 1/2 cup mint leaves
• 2-3 tbsp ginger, julienne cut
• 4-5 whole green chillies
• 1/4 cup milk
• Orange food color
• 1 tsp kewra water

Chicken:

• Heat 1/2 cup oil in a pan.Add onions and fry until brown.Remove from oil.
• Blend tomatoes,yogurt and browned onion to a fine paste in a blender .
• Add ginger garlic paste and chicken pieces to the oil.
• Cook on medium to high heat and fry the chicken until it changes its color.
• Add green cardamoms,large cardamom,cloves,black pepper,cinnamon stick and cumin seeds.
• Pour the blended mixture and mix well.
• Add red chillies powder,coriander powder and salt.Add dried plums.
• Cook on medium heat until chicken is done and only a thick gravy is left.Set aside.

Rice:

• Soak rice for 30 minutes in enough water to cover; then drain.
• Boil water, add cardamom, cinnamon stick, cloves, black pepper and salt and boil rice till 2/3 rd done.
• Drain the water off in a colander.Leave in the colander for a few minute, for all the water to drain out.

Layers:

• Add half of the remaining 1/4 cup oil in the pan to coat the base.
• Spread 1/3 of the rice in a layer at the base of the pan.Now layer with 1/2 of the chicken with gravy.
• Next, layer with half of remaining rice.Place tomato slices,mint leaves,ginger and green chillies on top.
• Now spread remaining chicken as a layer.
• Finish with the remaining rice layered on top.
• Pour remaining oil and orange color dissolved in milk and kewra water(This gives you a few dark orange colored rice grains interspersed in the rest of the rice. It looks very nice when served).

• Cook on a very low flame, with the lid tightly closed. This will take 20-30 minutes.
• Serve hot with fresh salad and Yogurt raita.

 

Thank you for stopping by! Enjoy!!!