Down South Goat Biryani

Ingredients

• 6 green cardamom pods, crushed
• 2 black cardamom pods, crushed
• 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
• 2 star anise
• 2 sticks cinnamon (about 6 inches total)
• 3 fresh bay leaves
• 15 threads saffron
• 1 teaspoon cumin seed
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 3 tablespoons ghee
• 3 cups basmati rice
• 2 bunches fresh cilantro (2 cups), leaves and stems, chopped
• 1 cup mint leaves
• 2 serrano chiles, slit in half lengthwise
• 6 garlic cloves
• 3 tablespoons peeled, chopped fresh ginger
• 3 tablespoons ghee
• 2 large red onions, peeled, halved, and thinly sliced (about 1 ½ cups)
• 1 tablespoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon green cardamom powder
• 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 goat leg (3 pounds), cut into 1-inch pieces (Ask your butcher to cut the meat into small pieces.)
• 3 shallots, skin on, cut in half lengthwise
• 2 garlic bulbs, skin on, cut in half crosswise
• 2 tablespoons ghee, melted, divided
• ½ cup cashews
• ½ cup golden raisins
• ½ cup chopped cilantro (for garnish after assembling the dish)

Steps

1. In a 3-quart pot with 4½ cups of water, add the cardamom, cloves, star anise, cinnamon, and bay leaves and bring to a simmer, covered, over low heat. Add the saffron, cumin, salt, and ghee; increase heat and bring to a rolling boil. Add the rice, stir briefly, then cover tightly; reduce heat to low and cook for 12 minutes—making sure to not lift the lid—until the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside. Remove the spice hulls.
2. In a blender or food processor, combine 1 cup water with the cilantro, mint, chiles, garlic, and ginger. Blend the ingredients to make a thick paste; set it aside.
3. In a large Dutch oven, heat the ghee over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring often, until the onions are golden brown, about 8 minutes. Add the garam masala, cardamom powder, and salt; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add the herb paste, and stir until well combined. Lower the heat and cook the sauce for 3 minutes. Add the goat and stir to coat all the meat with the sauce. Cover and cook until the meat is falling off the bone, about 45 minutes to an hour.
4. Place the shallots and garlic in a small pan and drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the melted ghee. Roast the shallots and garlic for 20 minutes, while the goat is cooking.
5. In a separate pan, heat 1 tablespoon ghee and toast the cashews and raisins until golden brown, about 2 minutes.
6. In a roasting pan, layer one-third of the rice, then top the rice with one-half of the goat; repeat and end with a layer of rice. Cover the pan tightly with foil.
7. Bake until all the flavors of the rice and goat combine, about 20 minutes. Uncover and garnish with reserved spice hulls. When ready to serve the biryani, place the roasted shallots, garlic, cashews, and raisins on top of the rice. Sprinkle with the cilantro.