-
2 pounds of boned leg of lamb, cut into ¾ inch
cubes
-
One large white onion thinly sliced and deep fried in
oil until light golden and crisp. Refined peanut oil is
recommended but sunflower will do.
-
5 tablespoons of whole Greek yoghurt
-
Juice of 2 lemons
-
Chopped fresh herbs – equal quantities of mint (handful)
and coriander (handful) mixed with two green chillies
(finely chopped).
-
Ghee (clarified butter) or oil
-
1 teaspoon saffron (or 10 threads of fresh saffron),
boiled in ¼ litre milk
-
Rice (long grain or basmati)
-
Simple pastry dough mixture for the top – mixture
of plain flour, butter and water with a pinch of salt.
Alternatively a lid can be used to seal the dish.
Spices for Marinade:
-
1 tablespoons papaya paste (tenderising agent)
-
2 tablespoons Ginger / Garlic paste
-
1 teaspoon salt
-
2 teaspoons turmeric
-
2 teaspoons red chilli powder
-
1 Cinnamon stick
-
2 cloves
-
10 cardamom pods with shell on
Method
1.
First, marinade the meat in the spices. This is a great
recipe to get your fingers mucky:
Get a flat copper dish and lay the juicy tender lamb pieces
flat to cover the bottom of the dish. Add all the spices
for the marinade to the meat in the above order and mix
in to the meat with your hands.
2.
Crush the fried onions onto the meat and mix with hands.
Add yoghurt and mix again. Add temon juice, fresh herbs
and 2 tablespoons of the oil which is leftover from the
onions.
3.
Leave to marinade for 40-45 minutes for the flavour to
develop.
4.
Meanwhile, par boil the rice. When the rice is still crunchy
in the middle, cover the meat with it.
5.
Pour over the top the Ghee (or 3 tablespoons of oil) mixed
with ½ litre of the water from the boiling rice.
6.
Place the saffron on top of the rice.
7.
With pre-made plain flour & water pastry, roll a tick
tube and stick to the copper pan. 7.
Roll out the remains of the dough and stretch over the
top of the dish to act like a lid. Alternatively you can
place a lid over the dish, but do not remove it until
completely cooked.
8.
Cook in oven at 180 degrees centigrade for 40 minutes.
Serve hot with Nan bread and salad
Serves 4
