Srilankan Mutton Biriyani

Ingredients

Section A:
mutton pieces - 500gm
vinegar - 1 tbsp
salt - 1 tsp
coriander seeds - 2 tsp
cumin seeds - 2 tsp
black pepper corns - 1 tsp
curry leaves - few
cardamoms - 6
cloves - 4
Section B:
coconut - 1, large
basmati rice - 4 cups
salt - 2 tsp or to taste
rampe leaves - 2 pieces
Section C:
ghee - ½ cup
cashew nuts - 2 tbsp
raisins - 2 tbsp
rampe leaves - 2 pieces
curry leaves - few
onion - 1 cup, sliced
butter - 1 tbsp
cardamom, cloves, cinnamon - 6 each, powdered together
hard boiled eggs - 4
potato wafers - 1 cup
Method

Mix the mutton pieces with vinegar and salt. Roast rest of the ingredients in section A and grind together to a fine powder.
Add to the mutton and set aside.
Grate the coconut and extract 1 cup thick milk and 2 cups of thin milk.
Wash the rice, drain well. Add the thin milk and 5 cups of water.
Add rampe leaves ( in section B ) and salt to taste.
Cook till all the liquid is absorbed. Spread on a wide tray and allow to cool.
Heat ghee (section C) fry cashew nuts and raisins, drain and reserve.
Add rampe, curry leaves and onion to the remaining ghee in the pan.
Fry till onion is golden brown. Add the mutton mixture, fry for 5 minutes.
Add 1 cup of water and simmer till the mutton is cooked and almost dry.
Add the cooked rice to the mutton in the pan. Pour the thick coconut milk on top.
Sprinkle with the powdered spices. Mix gently.
Dot with butter and leave covered on a low flame for 8-10 minutes till the coconut milk is absorbed.
Alternately, place the mutton and rice mixture in a oven proof dish , cover with aluminum foil and bake in a hot oven (200 C) for 20 minutes
Transfer the biryani to a serving dish and serve garnished with fried cashew nuts, raisins, hard boiled egg halves and potato wafers.

Note: Rampe is an aromatic leaf which looks like the leaf of lily plant. It is extensively
used in Srilankan cooking along with curry leaves. It is also known as Panduan or Theoy.
If it is not available, just omit it or use bay leaves as an alternate flavor addition.
Note: Packaged coconut cream may be used instead of thick coconut milk and the same, diluted with water may be used instead of thin coconut milk