Butternut Biryani With Cucumber Raita Recipes

CUCUMBER RAITA RECIPE

Steps:

• Rinse cucumber and peel it. Chop to tiny bite size pieces (about ¼ to ½ inch). If you prefer you may even grate it. Grated cucumbers let out moisture so make sure you use only greek yogurt if you want to grate them. Otherwise cucumber raita becomes runny.
• Also fine chop coriander and mint leaves (optional).
• Deseed the green chilli and chop. (optional)
• Whisk chilled yogurt in a large mixing bowl.
• Add chopped cucumber, green chilies, coriander leaves, mint leaves and salt. Mix all of them.
• Taste test and add more salt if needed. Drizzle cumin powder, ground black pepper & chaat masala (optional).
• Serve cucumber raita as a side in an Indian meal. It is usually eaten with Vegetable biryani or chicken biryani.
• Cucumber raita is best served fresh but can be chilled for a few hours.

LAMB & SQUASH BIRYANI WITH CUCUMBER RAITA

Steps:

• Mix the lamb with the garlic, 2 tsp chopped ginger and 1 tsp ground coriander and set aside.
• Heat 2 tsp oil in a non-stick pan. Add the onions, the remaining ginger and chilli and stir-fry briefly over a high heat so they start to soften. Add the rice and squash and stir over the heat for a few mins. Tip in all the remaining spices, then stir in 500ml boiling water and the bouillon. Cover the pan and simmer for 20 mins.
• Meanwhile, mix the cucumber, yogurt and mint together in a bowl to make a raita. Chill half for later.
• About 5 mins before the rice is ready, heat the remaining oil in a non-stick frying pan, add the lamb and stir for a few mins until browned but still nice tender. Toss into the spiced rice with the coriander and serve with the raita and a few mint or coriander leaves on top.