Kapitan Lamb Briyani

Kapitan Lamb Briyani, a photo by <3SnowyGirl<3 on Flickr.

This has to be the most wonderful briyani ever, alking about mamak food in Penang. So if you're ever in Penang, please do head over to Kapitan Nasi Kandar in Georgetown for a savoury briyani. They have chicken, beef or lamb. YUMMY!

Fried Beef Briyani Bihun (Vermicelli)

beef briyani fried vermicelli, a photo by &lt;3SnowyGirl&lt;3 on Flickr.

The first time I had this was during a Raya (Eid) visit to my parent's next door neighbour's house in Penang. Auntie A has always cooked delicious Indian-inspired food and always, give some to us. I absolutely love her thosai and capati. And, she makes wonderful Malay kuih as well, like karipap and cucur udang. 

So, during the visit to her house, she served us Bihun Briyani - and I was like "bihun briyani???" I had never tasted it or seen it anywhere else at that point. It was superbly delicious, she made it with lamb which makes it even more special. Who eats bihun with lamb, usually?

Today, I just thought of bihun for dinner, after the tiring day at work and no much time to cook complicated meals. And Auntie A's Bihun Briyani came to my mind.... Thinking of the savoury dish makes me drool all the way home from KL to Shah Alam...

This is my first time cooking it. I wasn't expecting to cook this tonight, and so I used whatever ingredients I had at home. It would have been much better if I was prepared, so I could put in more ingredients to make it more special. Anyway, simplicity is the most important factor for a busy full time working mum like me. It's a challenge to cook simple meals after a long day at work, especially when you're cooking for a 2 year old. Thankfully, she has Wantan Soup prepared earlier for today!

Here's a simple recipe for this delicious Bihun Goreng Briyani. Hope you LOVE it!

1 packet dried vermicelli, soaked in water for 10-20 minutes (I used Jasmine brand, soaked in normal temperature water).
1 packet Maggi Briyani seasoning, mix with 1/2 cup water
300gm thinly sliced beef (I added some chicken too)
1 yellow onion, sliced
3 garlic, sliced
1/2 carrot, julienned
1/3 cabbage, thinly sliced
1 red tomato, chopped
1 stick celery, sliced
Cinnamon stick, 1 small one
Cloves, Star Anise, Cardamon - a mix of these flavourful spices, just a few of each
1 tsp coriander powder (additional, optional)
dash of salt, pepper, sugar
dash of McCormick's Mix Spice
1 bunch fresh coriander, chopped (garnishing)
Some ready made fried shallots (garnishing)
1 large red chili, thinly sliced (garnishing)

Heat up a wok with olive oil and stir fry onion, garlic, adding the cloves, star anise and cardamon. Stir and add beef, chicken, briyani seasoning, coriander powder, and a dash of mix spice.

After aromatic, throw in the vegetables and vermicelli, and stir fry until the vermicelli softens. Add a little of water if needed. Taste, and add salt/pepper/sugar as like.

Fry until vermicelli is dried. Some people loves a soupy bihun goreng, but for briyani it won't taste as good until it's really fried well. So, stir, stir until cooked through. Transfer to a serving plate/bowl and garnish with coriander, chili and fried shallots. Or simply just whatever garnishing you have at home, like scallions or chopped celery or green chilies...

Enjoy!