Kurdish Iftar Biryani

Ingredients

• 1.5 kg Beef chunks (e.g., cuts used for ground beef)
• Vegetable oil (for searing)
• 200 ml Water (for the meat)
• 3 Onions (sliced)
• 40 g Butter (for the meat)
• 4 Garlic cloves (finely chopped, for the meat)
• 1 tsp Salt (for the meat)
• 1 tsp Pepper (for the meat)
• 3 Red onions (for the rice)
• 30 g Butter (for the rice)
• 1 handful Slivered almonds (for the rice)
• 3 Garlic cloves (for the rice)
• 700 g Basmati rice (washed)
• 1.4 L Hot water (for the rice)
• 2 tsp Salt (for the rice)
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 2 tsp Pepper (for the rice)
• 1 tsp Turmeric
• 1 tsp Coriander seed powder
• 0.5 tsp Allspice
• 1 tsp Cumin
• Raisins (recommended as a topping)
• Whole almonds (recommended as a topping)

Steps

1. 1

   Add some oil to a pan and sear the beef chunks on all sides.

2. 2

   Add 150-200 ml of water to the meat.

3. 3

   Distribute the sliced onions and 40 g of butter evenly over the meat.

4. 4

   Close the lid and let the meat cook for 60 minutes over medium heat.

5. 5

   After 60 minutes, sprinkle the finely chopped garlic cloves (3-4 pieces) over it and season with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper.

6. 6

   Stir everything well, close the lid again, and cook for another 90 minutes over low heat until the meat is tender.

7. 7

   In a wok pan, roast the red onions and slivered almonds in 30 g of butter.

8. 8

   Add 3 chopped garlic cloves and the spices (cinnamon, pepper, turmeric, coriander, allspice, cumin) and fry briefly.

9. 9

   Add the washed basmati rice (700 g) to the pan and stir in.

10. 10

    Pour in 1.4 liters of boiling water and add 2 tsp salt.

11. 11

    Cook the rice until the water is absorbed and the rice is soft.

12. 12

    Arrange the rice on a large platter, distribute the meat on top, and garnish with raisins and whole almonds.

Notes

The meat becomes especially tender due to the long cooking time over low heat. The amount of water for the rice should be approximately double the weight of the rice (1.4L for 700g).

Nutrition per serving

• Main course
• Biryani
• Kurdish
• Iftar
• Ramadan
• Beef
• Rice dish
• Festive