Kofta Pulao

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This is another form of Biryani whick is hugely popular in Hyderabad. Its my personal favorite too along with so many other delicacies in Mughlai Cuisine.

This is also my first ever entry to any event and I'm sending it to RCI: Authentic Hyderabadi Cuisine at Mona's blog Zaiqa. It also happened to be my older son's birthday and I thought what better way to celebrate it than with this fabulous pulao. It certainly bought a smile on his face :)


Ingredients:
4 tbs oil for frying onions

Marinate Mix
2 cups yogurt
1 1/2 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp salt
1/4 turmeric powder
2 tbs ginger garlic
3 onions
32-35 kofte/meatballs
1 green chilli, slit


Note: I deliberately kept the spices in the yogurt to a minimum because the meatballs in itself are very spicy and once all of it is cooked, its gonna taste awesome.

For Boiling Rice
6 cups basmati rice washed and soaked in water for 30 min's
5 tsp salt
Garam masala (6 cardamom, 2 sticks cinnamon, 4 whole black peppers, 4 cloves, 2 tsp shahzeera and 2 bay leaves)

For Garnish
a few strands of saffron soaked in milk
3 tbs lemon juice
4 tbs ghee
1 whole bunch or more of cilantro


Method:
Heat oil and thinly slice the onions and fry them until golden brown, freeze them for a while and crush them lightly before garnishing.

In the remaining oil, add the marinate mix and cook till oil seperates, add the meatballs just long enough for them absorb the spices. Let it cool.

Boil rice and add the salt and garam masala...till half done. Strain the rice in the collander and oil a baking dish liberally with 2 tsp oil.

Spread the rice and top it with the cooked meatballs, ghee, lemon juice, saffron soaked in milk, fried onions and cilantro. Add the second layer of rice and top it with any leftover garnish.

Preheat the oven to 350*F and bake for about 1/2 hour. Serve with Tamate ki Chutney or Mirchi ka Salan, like I did and enjoy!

Note: I dug up the draft for Mirchi Ka Salan and blogged it recently, follow the link if you are looking for the recipe ;)

Qeeme ke Kofte

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Or Ground Lamb Meat Balls...is a very simple and totally Hyderabadi recipe. Now with Ramadan round the corner there's an upsurge in cooking activity, with elaborate Iftaars and Saheris'. So here I am with this excellent recipe which can be combined with a variety of gravies, cooked with onions or in the form of Kofta Pulao.

Ingredients:

2 tbs olive oil

3 lbs ground lamb

10 tsp salt

6 tsp red chilli powder

1/4 tsp turmeric powder

4 tsp ginger garlic paste

2 green chillies, finely chopped

cilantro and mint finely chopped as needed

2-3 tbs garam masala*
(2 tsp black cumin seeds, 20-25 cardamom, 2-4 sticks cinnamon, 10 whole black pepper, 4 cloves)

Method:

Thaw the qeema and wash it thorougly under running water. Drain it well, in it add all the above ingredients and let it marinate for an hour or so.

Make small round balls and fry them slightly on medium heat. Makes approximately 80-90 meatballs, which can be freezed and used as needed.

Qeema Puffs

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Now this is a piece of cake, if you have the qeema ready, that is. Just make sure the puffs don't turn a dark brown, like mine did :(


Ingredients:
1 packet puff pastry shells (makes approx. 9)
1 lb cooked Qeema
1 egg
1 cup water


Method:
Prepare Qeema.

Place the filling in the center and moisten the pastry sheels on all corners. Press to seal and place on baking sheet.

Mix 50% egg and 50% water and brush on the top of the puffs.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 min's or until the top is a lovely golden brown.

Qeema

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The secret to an excellent Qeema, as I recently found out :P was to have lots of onions...this not only makes the dish tasty but also makes it juicy.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground lamb
2 tbs oil
2 onions, thinly sliced
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 1/2 cup water
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
4 cardamoms
1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp black cumin seeds (shahzeera)
4 cloves
4 whole black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 green chilli
Cilantro for garnish

Method:
Heat oil and add onions, as they begin to slightly brown add ginger garlic paste and stir in salt, turmeric and the rest of the spices except red chilli powder.

Add it when the onions have totally gone brown, immediately add the qeema and stir briskly.

Immediately add water and shut the lid, cook until the qeema is tender.

Slice a green chilli and add cilantro for garnish. Cook further till oil starts to seperate.

QEEMA WITH POTATOES AND PEAS:



Similarly you can try a number of other variations like qeema with qasoori methi, potatoes, peas or with tomatoes. Here I have added both potatoes and peas before serving.