South African Malay Lamb Breyani (Or Chicken)

Name: South African Malay Lamb Breyani (Or Chicken)
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 1 h 40 min
Total time: 2 h 30 min
Yield: 6-8 serving(s)
Ingredients: 4 cups basmati rice; 1 piece cassia (ZEE ( you can use a little nutmeg instead); 2 cardamom pods; salt; 1 cup lentils, brown; 2 onions, thinly sliced; 1 cup vegetable oil; 4 medium potatoes, peeled and halved; 2 1/4 lbs mutton (ZEE ( use lamb or chicken); 2 cups plain yogurt; 14 ounces tinned chopped tomatoes; 2 cinnamon sticks (ZEE ( use 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon if no sticks available); 4 allspice berries (ZEE ( use 1/2 t. ground allspice if no berries); 6 whole cloves; 1 tablespoon ground cumin; 2 teaspoons ground coriander; 1 teaspoon turmeric; 1 teaspoon chopped fresh gingerroot; 2 teaspoons crushed garlic; 2 tablespoons masala (ZEE ( a spicy mix, like a mild and spicy curry, but no bite); salt; 1 pinch saffron (ZEE ( use a 1/2 teaspoon turmeric); 1/2 cup butter; 1 cup water

Submitted by Zurie

"This is from "Culture & Cuisine of the Cape Malays" by Cass Abrahams, a well-known Malay cookery expert. It's not the way I would make it, but more traditional. I use the spices, but would make a meat main dish from it. Please note that Cass talks of mutton, although we make this dish in its many variations with chicken or beef or even pork (the latter is not eaten by Muslims). Her instructions are quite sparse, and you might have to use your own initiative here."

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Ready In:: 2hrs 30mins
Ingredients:: 24
Serves:: 6-8

ingredients

4 cups basmati rice
1 piece cassia (ZEE ( you can use a little nutmeg instead)
2 cardamom pods
salt
1 cup lentils, brown
2 onions, thinly sliced
1 cup vegetable oil
4 medium potatoes, peeled and halved
2 ¹⁄₄ lbs mutton (ZEE ( use lamb or chicken)
MARINADE
2 cups plain yogurt
14 ounces tinned chopped tomatoes
2 cinnamon sticks (ZEE ( use 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon if no sticks available)
4 allspice berries (ZEE ( use 1/2 t. ground allspice if no berries)
6 whole cloves
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon chopped fresh gingerroot
2 teaspoons crushed garlic
2 tablespoons masala (ZEE ( a spicy mix, like a mild and spicy curry, but no bite)
salt
1 pinch saffron (ZEE ( use a 1/2 teaspoon turmeric)
¹⁄₂ cup butter
1 cup water

directions

(Masala, a ground mixture of different spices, is available from Indian shops).
Boil rice, cassia, cardamom and salt in sufficient water to cover. Drain and set aside. Boil lentils in sufficient water to cover until almost soft. Drain and set aside.
Fry onions in oil until golden, remove with slotted spoon and set aside. Fry onions in same oil until golden, remove and set aside.
Mix everything for the marinade together.
Place the meat in a large bowl with half the fried onions and cover with the marinade. Leave for at least 1 hour.
Pour the used oil into a large saucepan. Sprinkle 2 cups cooked rice over the oil, then arrange the meat with its marinade over the rice.
Layer lentils, potatoes and the rest of the rice over the meat.
Layer remaining onions over potatoes and sprinkle over saffron (or turmeric).
Dot with the butter, pour the cup of water over, and close saucepan with a tight-fitting lid. Cook for 10 minutes over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer 1 hour or more until meat is tender.
(Okay, I won't make it this way, but this is true-blue Malay down to all that oil! Which you can reduce!).

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Reviews

Nice recipe but it got mixed reviews in my family so I averaged it out. I didn't know biryani (assuming breyani is the same thing) was an African recipe, but it does seem to borrow heavily from the traditional Indian biryani, but not quite as good. Interesting variation to try though, and oh, I cut back way on the oil.

Lattegirl

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Zurie

South Africa

I'm a widow, retired, and I love cooking. I live on the coast in South Africa and I love seafood. You're welcome to my recipes (all kinds, definitely not just seafood!) Just remember that no recipe is ever cast in stone -- adjust to your taste! The photo was taken at a rustic seaside restaurant on our West Coast, approx 1 year ago (2016).

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