Grind the cashew, poppy seeds and cumin seeds into a smooth paste, using as little water as possible
Set aside
Deep fry the sliced onions when it is hot
Don’t overcrowd the oil
When the onions turn light brown, remove from oil and drain on paper towel
The fried onion will crisp up as it drains
Also fry the cashewnuts till golden brown
Set aside
Wash the rice and soak in water for twenty minutes
Meanwhile, take a big wide pan, add oil in medium heat, add the sliced onions, add the blended paste, to it add the green chillies, ginger garlic paste and garlic and fry for a minute
Then add the tomatoes and sauté them well till they are cooked and not mushy
Then to it add the red chilli powder, biryani powder, mint, coriander leaves and sauté them well
Add the yogurt and mix well
I always move the skillet away from the heat when adding yogurt which prevents it from curdling
Now after returning the skillet back to the stove, add the washed lamb and salt and ½ cup water and mix well
Cook for 1 hour and cook it covered in medium low heat or put it in a pressure cooker for 6 whistles
If the water is not drained totally, heat it by keeping it open
Take another big pan, add thrice the cup of rice you use, and boil it
When it is boiling high, add the rice, salt and jeera and mix well
After 7 minutes exact or when the rice is 80% done
Switch off and drain the rice
Now, the layering starts
To the lamb, pat and level it
Add the drained hot rice on the top of it
Garnish with fried onions, ghee, mint, coriander leaves and saffron dissolved in milk
Cover the dish and bake in a 350f oven for 15 minutes or till the cooked but not mushy
Or cook in the stove medium heat for 12 minutes and lowest heat for 5 minutes
And switch off
Mix and serve hot!
Notes
1
If you are cooking in oven, do make sure to cook in a big oven safe pan and cover it tight and then keep in oven for the final step
2
You can skip biryani masala if you don’t have and add just garam masala (1 tsp and red chilli powder – 3 tsp instead of 1 tsp)
3
If it is spicy in the end, squeeze some lemon, it will reduce the heat and enhance the flavors also
