Atul’s Valentine’s Biryani by Atul Kochhar

A menu designed to be fun and easy to prepare together at home for Valentine's Day. Snack on fenugreek-flavoured methi mathri crackers while assembling your starters: prawn cocktail in delicate coconut moilee sauce, served in crisp lettuce cups as elegant canapés. For the main, traditional lamb biryani features lamb marinated overnight in yoghurt and spices, braised with tomatoes, curry leaf and green chilli, layered with rice and sealed with a puff-pastry parda adorned with Valentine’s love hearts. Served with rich curry gravy, beetroot coconut poriyal and cooling onion raita. To finish, enjoy a traditional Kolkata-style bhapa doi – a steamed yoghurt pudding lightly flavoured with rose and topped with crunchy pistachios.