Hyderabad Biryani and Sticky Saffron Dumplings: Try at home

Paneer and Spinach Biryani

PROTEIN: Paneer

HEAT LEVEL:   Medium

SERVE SIZE:     Serves 2-3  

PREP TIME:       5 minutes              

COOK TIME:     12 minutes

From Anjum Anand’s ‘I Love India’: “This is a fabulous and delicious vegetarian biryani that is easy to make and so much tastier than it sounds.”

INGREDIENTS:

1 pack The Spice tailor Malabar Biryani

175g paneer – cubed

75g baby spinach

2 tsp veg oil

METHOD

METHOD:

1. In medium sized pan, heat the oil and fry the dried spices from the spice sachet for a few seconds. Add the paneer and brown gently.
2. Add the sauce from the small sauce pouch and the spinach. Cook for 4-5 minutes.
3. Massage the rice in the packet to break up any clumps and pour out over the paneer.
4. Turn the heat to its lowest, cover, and steam the rice until heated through, around 5-6 minutes.
5. Serve with yoghurt or a raita.

Sticky Saffron Dumplings – From Anjum Anand’s ‘I Love India’

India has a whole genre of sweet desserts, which were once made in the home, but are now mostly made by specialised halvaies – Indian patissiers. Gulab jamun are one of India’s favourites: little syrupy doughnuts made from thickened milk instead of flour and soaked in sugar syrup rather than stuffed with jam or sweetened in the batter. I use dry milk powder, which I rehydrate, not the traditional thickened, solidified milk, as that takes too long and needs too much attention to make. There are only two tricks to getting these doughnuts right: the right consistency of dough (not too soft, not too hard); and frying them over a very low heat so they cook all the way to the centre, stirring the oil almost continuously so they brown evenly. I like them warm as they will be softer, and you can reheat them in their syrup, but you can equally eat them cold. Serve as they are, or with a little ice cream. Makes 18 (serves 1 – 2 per person).

Ingredients:

For the Dumplings:

400ml whole milk powder (measure it in a measuring cup), plus more if needed

100g plain (all-purpose) flour

⅔ tsp baking powder

2 tbsp ghee, plus more to form the dumplings

5 tbsp plain yogurt

5 tbsp whole milk

Vegetable oil, to deep fry

Sliced pistachios, to serve (optional)

For the Syrup:

450g granulated sugar

650ml water

2 good pinches of saffron threads

½ – 1 tsp rose water, depending on strength

Method:

Mix together the dry ingredients for the dumplings. Spoon in the ghee, yogurt and milk. Mix well with your hands and bring the dough together; it will be moist. Set aside.

For the syrup, heat the sugar, water and saffron together in a saucepan, stirring to help the sugar dissolve. Once boiling, simmer for around 3 – 4 minutes, and then turn off the heat. Add the rose water, using the smaller amount first and tasting until you have a strength you prefer.

Divide the dough n half. Wet some kitchen paper and place on top of the dough you aren’t working with. Grease your palms well with ghee, take half the dough and form into 9 small balls; I like to make them slightly oval rather than round, but you can shape them, as you like. The surfaces should be smooth and crack-free. (If the dough is too soft to shape, add a little milk powder). Repeat to make the shape and remaining dumplings.

To check if the oil is ready, put a tiny pinch of the dough into the oil. It should only sizzle very slightly. When it is ready, add the balls in batches so as not to crowd the pan, stirring the oil as you but them in. cook over a gentle head, stirring and turning them very often for even browning, they should take 15 – 17 minutes per batch to reach a lovely golden brown. Once done, take them out with a slotted spoon and place straight into the syrup. Repeat with the next batch.

Cover and leave to soak for 2 hours, or overnight, in the fridge. They should last 10 days or more. Serve as they are, or sprinkle them with sliced pistachios.