Meany Mince

I am very depressed today :( ...dont ask me why. Didnt you notice my punch line - The First Problem of Every Problem is to Exactly Decide Whats The Problem! Hmmm! Thats my problem. I have to get out of this bizzare state of mind before I freak out. Anything coming my way is subject to battery. Clobber, Bulldoze, Pummel, Pound, Thrash, Mince... these are the words ringing out loud in my mind. Now what? What what? Ok. Mince Meat. I will make Mince Meat Biryani! Well Biryani is kind of superlative but in the doldrums that I am in I MEAN TO CALL IT BIRYANI! come what may...

A Straightforward Gory Story... (U/A)

Rice
Thank God I have some 500gms of Basmati Rice left. (Wash and soak for about 1/2 hr)
1 tsp ghee
Dissolve a pinch of saffron in 2 tbsp warm milk and keep aside
1 Onion to be thinly sliced and fried in a little butter till golden
1 tbsp Mint leaves
1 tbsp Rose Water

Meat
I need 500gms of mince meat. Where is it???? Oh! Its beef mince! Whatever.. as long as it is MINCE. Scrub with some lemon juice and salt. Wash until the water runs clear and drain. Try washing with hot water. Helps in removing all that lard.

1 tbsp ghee (Hah! talk of the lard!)

1 inch Ginger crushed (or paste)

4 cloves of Garlic crushed (or paste)

5-6 Green Chillies (use according to weather conditions)

3 Onions to be sliced (or better still mince it)
1 tsp each of Turmeric Powder, Chilli Powder, Corriander Powder and Pepper Powder
2 tsp of Garam Masala

4 Tomatoes sliced

Stock
1 tsp ghee
2 inch cinnamon (broken)
4 cloves (crushed)
2 green cardamoms (bruised)
1 tsp fennel/anise seeds
1/2 tsp garam masala powder (inspite of all the above? let it be. gives that Punch!)
1 pinch of Ajinomoto (its ok! nothing will happen! ok..ok..optional)

Use a non-stick kadai. We are desperately trying to reduce usage of fat here. Lets get the stock in place. Add 1tsp ghee. To it add all thats mentioned in "Stock" except garam masala powder. Once all of them splutter garam masala powder. Add enough water required for rice on a 1:1 ratio in which use one portion of full cream milk instead of water (please keep this ready with you or you end up with burnt spices) and bring to boil. Add ajinomoto and salt (as required). Stock is ready. Strain the liquid through a small eyed colander and keep aside.

Use the same kadai. If you try stunts like they do on TV you end up with a sink-load of vessels. Those who have help at home please go ahead :). Wow! my mood is better already! Ok back to business... Add 1tsp ghee. Fry the rice for about 5 mins or till you see the moisture has disappeared. Now add stock. You may either cook in the kadai till done or a rice cooker or transfer the contents to a pressure cooker and wait for 1 whistle. Switch off. I used the pressure cooker.

Remember same kadai. Add 1tbsp ghee. Now all of them under "Meat" in the order of mention, except meat. Give 1 min each till green chillies. Onions can roast till brown. 1/2 min for the powders. Tomatoes till they blend. Then the meat and salt as required. Stir till meat is cooked but ensure moisture is retained.

Arrange alternate layers of meat and rice in THE kadai. Divide and sprinkle mint leaves, golden fried onions, saffron dissolved in milk and rose water in between the layers and ensure you have some left for the top and final layer of rice. Now heat a heavy bottomed tawa and leave the kadai on top of it tightly sealed. We are not fretting too much as the rice is already fully cooked. Its just a matter of meat making friends with rice. They should be palsy-walsy in about 15 mins ;)

I INSIST THIS IS A BIRYANI!