Authentic Char Minar Mutton Biryani Recipe

Char Minar Mutton Biryani is a rich and flavorful dish inspired by the famous food of Hyderabad. It is made with tender mutton, fragrant basmati rice, saffron milk, and traditional spices. This biryani is aromatic, delicious, and perfect for special meals.

Ingredients
For Marinating the Mutton

500 g mutton (cleaned and cut into pieces)

1 cup thick curd (yogurt)

1½ tbsp ginger-garlic paste

1 tsp turmeric powder

1½ tbsp red chilli powder

1 tbsp coriander powder

1 tsp garam masala

Salt to taste

2 tbsp fried onions

Juice of 1 lemon

For Cooking the Rice

2 cups basmati rice

4–5 cups water

2 bay leaves

4 green cardamoms

1 cinnamon stick

4 cloves

Salt to taste

For the Biryani Masala

3 tbsp ghee or oil

2 large onions (thinly sliced)

2 tomatoes (chopped)

2 green chillies (slit)

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp garam masala

½ cup chopped mint leaves

½ cup chopped coriander leaves

For Saffron Milk

¼ cup warm milk

8–10 saffron strands

How to Make Char Minar Mutton Biryani
Step 1: Marinate the Mutton

Take a bowl and mix the mutton with curd, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala, lemon juice, salt, and fried onions. Mix everything well so the mutton is fully coated. Cover the bowl and keep it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours. For better taste, you can marinate it overnight.

Step 2: Cook the Rice

Wash the basmati rice and soak it in water for about 20 minutes. Boil water in a large pot and add bay leaves, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and salt. Add the soaked rice and cook it until it is about 70% cooked. Drain the rice and keep it aside.

Step 3: Cook the Mutton Masala

Heat ghee or oil in a deep pan. Add cumin seeds and sliced onions, and cook them until they turn golden brown. Add green chillies and chopped tomatoes, and cook until the tomatoes become soft. Then add the marinated mutton and cook it on medium heat for 15–20 minutes until the mutton becomes partly tender. Add mint leaves, coriander leaves, and garam masala and mix well.

Step 4: Layer the Biryani

Spread the partly cooked rice over the mutton masala in the pan. Pour saffron milk over the rice. You can also add some fried onions, mint leaves, and a little ghee on top for extra flavour.

Step 5: Dum Cooking

Cover the pot tightly with a lid and cook it on low heat for about 20 minutes. This slow cooking process, called dum, helps the rice and mutton absorb all the flavours and aromas.

Step 6: Serve

Gently mix the layers before serving. Serve the Char Minar Mutton Biryani hot with raita, boiled eggs, or salan.

The soft mutton, fragrant rice, and saffron flavour make this biryani a truly delicious and satisfying dish.