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Seafood Akhni
Seafood Akhni
Salwaa Smith – Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive since 2011!
Ingredients:
1kg seafood
2 large onions, finely chopped
2 finely chopped tomatoes
50g butter or margarine
5 large whole fresh green chilli, slit open. You may use more or less, depending on your taste
1 Tbsp finely chopped or grated garlic
1 tsp finely chopped or grated ginger
1/2 cup chopped fresh coriander
2 tsp salt, to taste
1 Tbsp red leaf masala/roasted masala
2 tsp seafood / fish masala mix*** see note
1 tsp chilli powder or chilli flakes
1 heaped tsp ground cumin
1 heaped tsp ground coriander
1 heaped tsp turmeric
3 cups of basmati rice or long grain white rice
1/4 cup cooking oil
2 bay leaves
3 cardamom pods
2 pieces of stick cinnamon
3 all-spices
3 cloves
1/4 cup of lemon juice
1/2 cup of plain yoghurt, Greek yoghurt
Method:
Cook rice 3/4 finish and put aside.
Warm a pot on the stove. Add butter and oil. Braise the onions with the whole spices and garlic. Add the dry spices, the tomatoes, lemon juice and cook for about 15 minutes before adding a cup of water and the yoghurt. Stir through.
Add rice and mix well. Layer seafood on top of rice add another 1/2 to 1 cup of water, depending what kind of rice you using. I always use basmati or a long grain white rice for akhnis or breyanis.
Dot with butter and sprinkle a good handful of freshly chopped coriander leaves. Cover with lid. Cook on high for 5 minutes. Turn the heat off, leave covered for a further 5 minutes before serving.
Enjoy!
I cooked this akhni over the BBQ coals outside. The exact same method can be use to cook on the stove top.
Find my fish masala recipe here ➡️ https://capemalaycookingdelights.com/category/seafood/
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Salwaa’s Akhni Pre-Mix
Salwaa’s Pre-Mixed Akhni Cooking Sauce
Presenting my Akhni Cooking Sauce! After extensive research, trials and error I’ve perfected my cooking sauces. In my cooking sauce range you will find Akhni Pre-Mix, Curry Pre-Mix as well as our ever popular Butter Chicken Pre-Mix. Watch the full video tutorial above, for instructions on how to use my cooking sauce.
No more peeling, chopping, measuring we’ve done it all for you. This is a great way of trying new recipes without having buy lots of spices. Perfect for the beginner cook or even the more experience cook. Each recipe is usually about 20 – 60 minutes, depending if you use chicken, lamb, mutton or beef.
Akhni made with Salwaa’s Akni Pre-Mix and Fragrant Rice
From My Kitchen To Yours – keeping our heritage alive!
Ingredients:
1 jar Salwaa’s Akhni Pre-Mix
4 cups fragrant rice
750g lamb, mutton or chicken pieces
3 potatoes
Fresh dhanya for garnish
Butter as needed
Method:
Soak 4 cups fragrant rice in boiling water to cover.
Empty the contents of one Salwaa’s Akhni Pre-Mix in a deep pot with one jar of water. (Use the jar, at the same time get all the contents out of the jar)
Stir and simmer for 5 minutes.
Add the clean chicken or meat pieces and stir well to combine. Cover & simmer for 15 to 35 minutes depending on the type of meat used. Add water if required. After the meat has cooked for 15-35 minutes add three medium potatoes, peeled and cut into quarters (optional)
Cook for 5 minutes. Rinse the soak rice until the water run clear and add into the pot. Cover with 2 cups hot water or enough to just cover the rice. Add 1 tsp salt, a handful of freshly chopped coriander/ dhanya and butter dotted on top of the water. Cook on high until the rice start boiling, turn the heat to its lowest setting. Steam until the rice is cooked and most of the water has evaporated. Turn the heat off, cover with foil and leave to rest for about 10 minutes.
Before serving stir gently with a fork to fluff / separate the rice. Serve with dhai, onion & tomato sambal or atchar.
All my spices and Ebooks are available on my website at www.capemalaycookingdelights.com
Mutton Akhni
Salwaa’s Mutton Akhni
Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights – Salwaa Smith
Akhni is basically a rice and curry dish which have been made into one. Mutton, lamb or chicken pieces are made into a dish very similar to curry and topped with rice. Basmati or long grain rice is best to use for this dish as with all rice dishes. Akhni is very often served at large gatherings and sometimes made over an open fire (BBQ). The taste of akhni made over an open fire changes completely in comparison to one made on an electric or gas stove. There are different versions of akhni available e.g. akhni is made in most Asian countries and varies by region. Here I share my version of Cape Malay akhni which is served with dhai, tomato and onion salad or various atchars.
Mutton Akhni
Ingredients:
1kg mutton/lamb pieces
6 medium potatoes, peeled and halved
1 heaped tsp of saffron
3 large onions, finely chopped
50g butter or margarine
1 cup buttermilk
1 large whole fresh green chilli, slit open
1 Tbsp garlic and ginger paste
1/2 cup chopped fresh dhanya
2 & 1/2 tsp salt, to taste
2 & 1/2 tsp red leaf masala/roasted masala
2 tsp ground jeera/cumin
2 tsp ground coriander/koljana
1 tsp chilli powder
2 tsp turmeric/borrie
4 – 5 cups basmati rice
1/2 cup cooking oil
2 tsp jeera seeds
1 tsp mustard seeds
2 bay leaves
6 cardamom pods, slit open
4 pieces of stick cinnamon
6 all-spices
6 cloves
Method
Wash the mutton pieces, drain and set aside. Boil the potatoes in a little water, till half-cooked but still firm. Infuse the saffron in 1 cup of boiling water and set aside.
Melt the butter in a pan and fry 1 chopped onion in the butter and set aside.
Place the mutton pieces in a large mixing bowl and add the buttermilk, green chilli, garlic and ginger paste, dhania, salt, red leaf masala, ground jeera, ground coriander, chilli powder, and turmeric. Mix thoroughly, ensuring that all of the mutton pieces are covered in the marinade. Set aside for 1 hour.
Rinse the rice in a colander, drain and place in a large pot on medium to high heat. Add water to reach halfway and add 1 teaspoon salt. Boil till half-cooked (the rice grains should be firm). Transfer to a colander and rinse under cold running water. Drain and set aside.
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Heat a large pot on medium to high heat, add the oil. Add the jeera seeds, mustard seeds, bay leaves, cardamom seeds, all-spices,cloves and cinnamon. Stir-fry for 1 minute then add the remaining chopped chopped and braise till golden in colour. Add the marinated mutton pieces along with the marinade, the 1 cup of water and simmer on medium heat for about 30 minutes, or till the meat is tender and cooked. Add more water if the meat becomes to dry.
Arrange the potatoes between the mutton pieces and spoon the rice directly on top. Pour the fried onion with the melted butter over the rice, and lastly pour the cup of water containing saffron plus 1 more cup of boiling water over the rice and onions. Turn the plate on high for 5 minutes, then lower it to low. Steam, covered, for 20 minutes. Turn the heat off, leave to “rest” for 10 minutes before serving with dhai and tomato & onion salad.
Note: All akhnis and breyanis should be dished from the bottom up.
Variation: The mutton may be substituted with lamb or chicken pieces (thigh, drumstick, wing and breast,) and prepared in exactly the same manner. Cooking time however will be less if using chicken or lamb. Note that the breast portion should be halved 🙂
How to make to tomato and onion salad
© Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights
Cape Malay Cooking & Other Delights - Salwaa Smith 
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