Dum Pork Belly Ribs Biryani
There is no better excuse to get busy in the kitchen than welcoming a good friends from overseas home! With CJ and CN back in Singapore, I decided to prepare an Indian feast at Restaurant 2706, with a little twist of my own.
It all started when my Indian colleague generously gave me some two year aged basmati rice, telling me that this was the type of rice used in Hyderabad for their famous dum biryani. That immediately got me excited! After all, I love biryani, and what better way to put this special rice to good use than cooking one of my family's all time favourites?
Dum Pork Belly Ribs Biryani!
Yes, you read that correctly. PORK biryani!
For religious and cultural reasons, pork is generally absent from Indian restaurant menus. So if you fancy a good pork biryani, you know where to find it. The one and only, exclusively at Restaurant 2706!
The aged basmati rice was a joy to work with. Beautiful long grains that remained separate and fluffy, layered with aromatic spices, tender pork belly ribs, caramelised onions and boiled eggs. The magic of dum cooking is allowing everything to steam gently together, letting the rice absorb all those wonderful flavours and aromas. Lifting the lid is always one of my favourite moments!
Of course, a proper Indian feast deserves more than just biryani.
I also prepared some Chicken Tikka, marinated with spices and yoghurt before grilling, and Stir Fried Okra with onions, crispy ikan bilis and cashew nuts for that lovely combination of textures. To complete the spread, I bought some daal and naan. Even a home chef deserves a little help from outside!
And what should we drink with all these spices?
For me, bubbles are among the best companions to Indian cuisine! Champagne and Cava are particularly enjoyable. Their refreshing acidity and lively bubbles help cleanse the palate between mouthfuls of richly spiced food, making every bite as enjoyable as the first.
But ultimately, the best part of cooking at home is not just the food. It is having good friends around the table, sharing stories, laughter and a few glasses of wine. After all, good food tastes even better when shared with good company.
Welcome home, CJ and CN! ????
