The King of Middle Eastern Rice Dishes | Lamb Mandi Recipe

lamb

🥗Healthier: chicken

💰Cheaper: beef

Chicken is leaner and more affordable than lamb.

basmati rice

🥗Healthier: quinoa

💰Cheaper: long-grain rice

Quinoa is nutritious; long-grain rice is more economical.

saffron

🥗Healthier: turmeric

💰Cheaper: paprika

Turmeric adds color and is less expensive.

almonds

🥗Healthier: walnuts

💰Cheaper: sunflower seeds

Walnuts provide healthy fats; sunflower seeds are budget-friendly.

Begin with 4 lamb shanks cut into smaller pieces.

Brown the lamb shanks in two batches using the sauté function on the Instant Pot for about 5 minutes each batch.

Remove the first batch, brown the next batch, then add them all back into the pot with a peeled onion.

Add 8 garlic cloves, a small cinnamon stick, 4-5 cardamom pods, 4 whole cloves, 1 teaspoon black peppercorns, 2 bay leaves, and salt to taste.

Pour enough water to cover the meat completely, seal the lid, and pressure cook for 45 to 55 minutes with a natural release for about 20 minutes.

After cooking, remove the lamb and place it in a broiler-safe baking pan, discarding larger pieces of onion and spices.

Season the lamb with 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon paprika, a pinch of cinnamon, and freshly cracked black pepper.

For the rice, finely chop an onion and sauté it in 1/4 cup olive oil until soft and golden, about 8 minutes.

Add 1 finely chopped tomato and spices (1 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, and black pepper) and cook until the tomato is soft.

Add 3 cups of rinsed basmati rice and 2 pinches of saffron soaked in hot water, along with 4 cups of lamb broth and 3 teaspoons of salt.

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium until most water evaporates.

To add a smoky flavor, burn charcoal and place it over the rice covered with foil, drizzling olive oil on the charcoal.

Cover the pot and let the rice simmer on low heat for 15 minutes until fully cooked.

Discard the charcoal and fluff the rice.

Set the oven to broiler and broil the lamb for about 5-6 minutes until it gets color.

Serve the lamb over the rice or arrange on a platter.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens