North Indian Yakhni Pulao
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Nutritional Guidelines (per serving) | |
---|---|
1064 | Calories |
53g | Fat |
73g | Carbs |
70g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 6 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 1064 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 53g | 68% |
Saturated Fat 19g | 96% |
Cholesterol 234mg | 78% |
Sodium 285mg | 12% |
Total Carbohydrate 73g | 26% |
Dietary Fiber 4g | 16% |
Protein 70g | |
Calcium 127mg | 10% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
This tasty rice pilaf dish is a classic at North Indian meals where it is known as a pulao. It gets its modifier—yakhni (pronounced akhni)—from the meat stock it is cooked in.
Yakhni pulao can be served with just a simple vegetable raita but you can go all out and add a curry dish too if you like.
Ingredients
- For the Spice Bundle:
- 6-inch square muslin
- 1-inch piece cinnamon
- 1 black cardamom pod
- 6 green cardamom pods
- 6 cloves
- 10 black peppercorns
- 1 star anise
- 2 teaspoons coriander seeds
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 large bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- For the Meat and Rice:
- 2 pounds/1 kilogram goat meat or lamb with bones (cut into 2-inch or bite-sized pieces)
- 2 tablespoons garlic paste
- 2 tablespoons ginger paste
- 3 tablespoons neutral oil (vegetable, sunflower or canola)
- 4 large onions (2 chopped fine, 2 sliced very thinly)
- 2 1/2 cups basmati rice (washed well)
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened yogurt
- Salt to taste
Steps to Make It
To Make the Spice Bundle
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If you are using a pressure cooker, put 6 cups of water in it. If using a deep, heavy-bottomed pan, put 8 to 9 cups of water in it.
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Cut a piece of muslin cloth into a 6-inch square and place the cinnamon, black and green cardamom, cloves, peppercorns, star anise, coriander and cumin seeds, bay leaf and red chili powder in the center of this square.
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Gather up the edges and tie tightly with a piece of string to form a bundle. Put this bundle in the pressure cooker or pan.
To Cook the Meat and Rice
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Add the ginger, garlic pastes, meat, and salt to taste to the pressure cooker or pan and close. Boil till the meat is almost cooked.
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Remove the muslin bag and throw it away. Remove the meat from the pot and reserve. The stock left in the pot should measure 6 cups. If there is more, boil it down till you get 6 cups. If there is less, add hot water to get 6 cups.
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In a separate deep pan, heat the cooking oil and add the chopped onions. Fry till light golden.
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Now add the reserved meat, reduced stock, rinse rice and yogurt, and mix well. Cook on medium till the mixture comes to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the rice is done. The rice is done when you press a few grains between your index finger and thumb and they feel firm but mash completely (just like al dente pasta).
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Turn off the heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
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This step is optional—while the rice is resting, fry the sliced onions in cooking oil till caramelized and golden. Drain and keep on paper towels.
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Open the pan and stir the rice well, taking care not to break up the pieces of meat.
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Garnish with optional fried sliced onions and serve it piping hot with a vegetable raita or curry dish of your choice.
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