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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Chicken Biryani


This is a delicious Pakistani/Indian rice dish which is often reserved for very special occasions.It has a lengthy preparation, but the work is definitely worth it.

Chicken Biryani

* Prep. Time : 30 minutes
* Cook Time : 90 minutes
* Serves : 8

Chicken:
  • 3/4 cup oil
  • 3 large onions, sliced
  • 250 gm tomatoes, roughly chopped
  • 1 cup yogurt
  • 2 tbsp ginger & garlic paste
  • 1 kg chicken, cut into medium sized pieces
  • 3 green cardamoms
  • 1 large black cardamom
  • 5 cloves
  • 8 whole black pepper
  • 2 inch piece of cinnamon stick
  • 1 tbsp cumin seeds
  • 2 tbsp red chillies powder
  • 2 tbsp coriander powder
  • 1 1/2 tbsp salt
  • 10-12 dried plums
Rice :
  • 1 kg rice
  • 1 large cardamom
  • 2 inch piece of cinnamon stick
  • 3 cloves
  • 5 whole black pepper
  • salt, to taste
  • water, as required
Layers:
  • 2 tomatoes,cut in round slices
  • 1/2 cup mint leaves
  • 2-3 tbsp ginger, julienne cut
  • 4-5 whole green chillies
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • Orange food color
  • 1 tsp kewra water

Chicken:
  • Heat 1/2 cup oil in a pan.Add onions and fry until brown.Remove from oil.
  • Blend tomatoes,yogurt and browned onion to a fine paste in a blender .
  • Add ginger garlic paste and chicken pieces to the oil.
  • Cook on medium to high heat and fry the chicken until it changes its color.
  • Add green cardamoms,large cardamom,cloves,black pepper,cinnamon stick and cumin seeds.
  • Pour the blended mixture and mix well.
  • Add red chillies powder,coriander powder and salt.Add dried plums.
  • Cook on medium heat until chicken is done and only a thick gravy is left.Set aside.

Rice:
  • Soak rice for 30 minutes in enough water to cover; then drain.
  • Boil water, add cardamom, cinnamon stick, cloves, black pepper and salt and boil rice till 2/3 rd done.
  • Drain the water off in a colander.Leave in the colander for a few minute, for all the water to drain out.
Layers:
  • Add half of the remaining 1/4 cup oil in the pan to coat the base.
  • Spread 1/3 of the rice in a layer at the base of the pan.Now layer with 1/2 of the chicken with gravy.
  • Next, layer with half of remaining rice.Place tomato slices,mint leaves,ginger and green chillies on top.
  • Now spread remaining chicken as a layer.
  • Finish with the remaining rice layered on top.
  • Pour remaining oil and orange color dissolved in milk and kewra water(This gives you a few dark orange colored rice grains interspersed in the rest of the rice. It looks very nice when served).
  • Cook on a very low flame, with the lid tightly closed. This will take 20-30 minutes.
  • Serve hot with fresh salad and Yogurt raita.

Thank you for stopping by! Enjoy!!! 

6 comments:

  1. Ambreen,Thanks for Sharing this Authentic Recipe...I always marinate the chicken with the yoghurt mixture yo made here and ginger garlic paste for atleast and hour before cooking...also while making layers I put on chicken layers first and then rice...correct me if I am wrong...thanks Ambreen

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  2. Thank you Lipsy for your kind words. I'm not an expert, but I think that if the chicken gravy is thick, spread a layer of rice first. But if the gravy is slightly thin, place it at the bottom of the pan and cover it up with rice. Hope this helps :)

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  3. OMG Ambreen!!!!!!!!
    I made this last night for my husband and in-laws, and it was AMAZING!
    Lol, I told my husband, "I'm following my internet-bestie's recipe for biryani tonight"
    and he said, "oh, Ambreen right?" LOL
    See, you're famous around our home! :)

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    Replies
    1. Oh dear, you always put a smile on my face with such sweet comments. Thank you so much for your positive feedback :)

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    2. Anddddd I made a blog post about it! I LOVE your recipes! They are always a hit!

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    3. Thank you so much dear, would love to see your post :)

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