Fantastic company deserves delicious food and this simple biriyani recipe is just that! A baked casserole of basmati rice and tender lamb that’s flavoured with a fragrant Indian curry paste is great teamed up with lots of tasty side dishes.
There’s a bit of a hygge theme this week on the blog and one of my tips in my previous embracing hygge on a budget post was slow cooking or just cooking a meal in general. It encapsulates the idea of cosiness, creating a beautiful warm atmosphere and taking a moment to enjoy the little things in life with your loved ones. Enjoying good times with your favourite people is a big part of the hygge concept and there is no better way to do that than over a warm home cooked meal.
- 450 g /1lb lamb shoulder or leg steaks cut into 2.5cm/1inch cubes
- 30 ml /2tbsp rapeseed or vegetable oil
- 2 medium onions peeled and finely chopped
- 6 garlic cloves peeled and finely chopped or 30ml/2tbsp garlic purée
- 1 x 5cm/2inch piece fresh root ginger peeled and finely chopped or grated (frozen
- will do too)
- 30 ml -60ml/2- 4tbsp curry paste or powder of your choice
- 600 ml /1pint good hot lamb stock
- Salt and freshly milled black pepper
- 150 g /5oz frozen spinach
- Large bunch freshly chopped coriander
- 500 g /1lb 2oz cooked basmati rice
- Lime/lemon wedges to garnish
- Extra freshly chopped coriander to garnish
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Preheat the oven to Gas mark 4, 180°C.
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Heat 15ml/1tbsp oil each in two separate pans and cook the lamb, half the onions, garlic and ginger in one pan and the remaining onions, garlic, ginger in the second pan. Reduce the heat and cook gently for 6-8 minutes until the meat in the pan is brown and the onion mixture is soft.
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Add equal quantities of the curry paste or powder to each pan according to your preference and for 1-2 minutes to release the flavours. Add the lamb stock to the pan with the lamb mixture. Turn up the heat and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat, season to taste and add half the coriander.
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Add spinach to the second pan with the onion and garlic mixture. Heat gently, stirring occasionally until the spinach thaws. Remove from the heat, season to taste and add the remaining coriander.
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Spoon half the lamb mix (including half the stock) into a 600ml/1pint lightly greased rectangular ovenproof dish, then half the spinach mix and half the rice. Repeat the steps finishing with the rice.
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Cover with foil and cook in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
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Serve with mango chutney, naan or pitta bread and a cucumber raita.
This recipe works well with cooked roast lamb too. The same cooking times apply.
One cosy Sunday afternoon, I fancied cooking up a hearty meal for my family to take advantage of the hygge atmosphere that we had created in our home. The log burner was roaring, candles were lit and our favourite box set was playing, all that was needed was a delicious meal. A lamb biriyani is a warming winter recipe and so easy and quick to prepare too.
Simply Beef & Lamb are encouraging everyone to inject more hygge into their lives and their winter recipes are the perfect way to do this; warming up the dreariest of winter nights and inspiring cosy nights in with friends, family, and loved ones. The variety of their recipes highlights the versatility of flavours when cooking with beef and lamb.
One thing to look out for when choosing your meat – whether it’s beef or lamb – is to keep an eye out for a quality mark like the Red Tractor logo. It’s a definite indicator that the meat is farm assured and responsibly produced by people dedicated to providing great food.
For everything you need to know about beef and lamb, more recipe ideas and information about Red Tractor beef and lamb, please visit www.simplybeefandlamb.co.uk.
What would be your perfect hygge inspired meal?
*Recipe commissioned by Simple Beef & Lamb, but all opinions are my own.
This biriyani looks amazing! I am not a huge fan of lamb so would probably try it with beef but definitely pinning this to my recipe collection! Thank you for sharing.
I think it would be equally as good with beef as well.
As always you’ve made a beautiful recipe, I feel the Hygge. I enjoy rice dishes too as it’s so filling but there’s still enough meat to get a hearty cosy meal out of it.
Happy that you’re feeling the hygge in this dish.
I adore lamb biryani, it’s one of my favourites, especially when my mum makes it – such a treat!
I bet your mum’s version is beautiful!
I’ve only ever had chicken biriyani, but love lamb, so have added this recipe to my Pinterest boards to make in the future – it looks so delicious! I keep hearing about hygge as well, I think I need to look into that!
I never used to like lamb – or at least I thought I didn’t, but now I love it. I think it was the fact that I hate the lamb and mint sauce combo and that’s how I always had it at home. This sounds delicious.
Me too, but it’s so tasty and is one of my favourite meats now.
Mmmm, I love lamb and this dish looks simply amazing! It definitely conjures up a warm and cosy day at home with family. Perfect recipe for hygge.
Thanks Sarah! It’s definitely a comforting dish.
I can’t believe I’ve actually never made a Biryani, incredible! This one looks great and sounds like you’ve created the perfect Hygge feeling in your home. Nice. Adding this to the future to make list!
Wow! It’s a great mix of meat, rice and veggies too with delicious Indian spices. I think you would relly like it.
I love lamb curries. We often have a lamb rogan josh on a Friday.
I love a rogan josh…perfect Friday night food!
I like Chicken Biryani but your Lamb Biryani looks incredibly delicious! Thanks for sharing the recipe with us!
Oooh, I will have to try it with some chicken next time.
Oooh I love this recipe. Going to have to try it as we seek to be in a bit of a meal idea rut lately.
I know what you mean. We seem to be eating the same things too. Let me know what you think.
This looks and sounds great, not sure i would have time to make it
You could make it at the weekend for meals in the week maybe?
I have had chicken biriyani before but never lamb but as always Jemma you’ve knocked it out the park with this delicious yet simple recipe. I love it
Thank you lovely! I’m going to have to try it with chicken next time.
Thanks for sharing this recipe! We are massive lamb lovers here and I’m particularly fond of an indian – this recipe is simple and sounds delicious so definitely bookmarking this post to try ASAP!
Emmie xo
http://www.unsignedmeblog.co.uk
Oh wow! Let me know if you give it a try.
My husband loves a good lamb biriyani, and this one looks really healthy and tasty
It really is and full of flavour too.
I try to order Lamb Biriyani every time I am at an Indian Restaurant, now thanks to your recipe webpag I can make it at home, thank you!!
This looks great, I really do love Lamb biriyani.
Thank you!
Wow it makes me hungry just seeing this! X
Thank you! I get like that with recipe posts too. 🙂
Lovely recipe – I love cooking with lamb having spent my entire childhood hating it! This looks like the perfect comfort food.
I wasn’t a fan of lamb up until a few years ago, now I love it! 🙂
This is the perfect hygge type of meal and I would absolutely love to have this waiting for me for dinner x
It has hygge written all over it. 🙂
I always order a biriyani when I eat out at my local Indian, chicken or lamb, both are delicious. Jo x
I’m going to have to try it with chicken next time!
I love cooking curries at home, not used lamb a lot though – but may give it a go this weekend! x
I love a good curry at the weekend.
This sounds delicious and the perfect family meal. I need to read up on hygge too and see what everyone is talking about!
Hygge is amazing! I wrote a post about it at the beginning of the week.
This looks delicious, I’m a veggie but I might give the sauce a try 🙂
You could add in some extra veggies instead. 🙂
That is literally the heartiest, yummiest comfort food ever!
It really is!
I love Biriani but I have never attempted to make one. Will have to give it a try.
My husband absolutely loves Biriyani so I will have to try this for him!
I love Lamb Biriyani, actually I love Biriyani in general… Definitely going to save this recipe to favourites to try out at a later date x