Peshawar-Style Lamb Curry

Recipe Ingredients:

4 tbsp olive oil

2.5 cm cinnamon stick

5 green cardamom pods, bruised

5 cloves

2 bay leaves

700 gm lamb, boiled

1 large onion, finely chopped

2 tbsp ginger puree

2 tbsp garlic puree

1 tbsp tomato puree

1 tbsp ground turmeric

1 tbsp ground coriander

1 tbsp ground cumin

125 gm thick set natural yogurt

2 tbsp gram flour

150 ml warm water

2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander leaves

1 tbsp chopped fresh mint leaves

salt (according to taste)

How to Prepare:

In a medium saucepan, heat oil over a low heat and add the cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and bay leaves. Let them sizzle for 20-30 seconds, then add the lamb, increase the heat to medium-high and cook untill all the natural juices have evaporated.

Add the onion and ginger and garlic purees, cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring regularly, then add the tomato puree, turmeric, ground coriander and cumin. Continue to cook for 3-4 minutes.

Whisk together the yogurt, gram flour and chilli powder and add to the prawns. Reduce the heat to low, add the warm water, cover and simmer, stirring to ensure that the sauce does not stick to the base of the pan, for 40-45 minutes, or untill lamb is well cooked, if necessary, to thicken the sauce to a desired consistency.

Stir in the fresh mint and coriander, remove from the heat and serve.

Village-Style Chicken Biryani

Recipe Ingredients:

750 gm chicken

3 cups basmati rice

4 1/2 cups water

4 cardamom pods

4 cloves

4 star anise

2 cinnamon sticks 

1 tbsp cumin seeds

1 onion, finely sliced

1 tomato, chopped 

4 green chillies, slit length wise

1/2 cup chopped mint

1/2 cup chopped coriander

2 tbsp ginger garlic paste

1 tbsp turmeric powder

1 tbsp red chilli powder

1 juice of lime

8 tbsp oil

2 tbsp salt

How to Prepare:

In a big vessel add oil, when hot add cumin seeds, cardamom pods, cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks and cook for few seconds, now add chopped onions, green chillies, ginger garlic paste and tomato's, allow to sweat, add turmeric powder, salt, ginger garlic paste, chopped mint, chopped coriander, and chicken, mix well untill well combined. Cover and cook untill chickens turns slightly brown in color or cooked.

Wash rice in several changes of cold water untill the water runs clear. Add washed rice to the chicken mixture add water, lime juice, red chilli powder, mix well untill well combined and allow to cook on medium-high flame , once when the rice is cooked remove from heat and leave it for few minutes. Serve hot.