Chicken Biryani

25m
Serves 4
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Directions

  1. 1Slice red onions thinly for frying.
  2. 2Fry the sliced red onions at 325 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown and crispy.
  3. 3Chop tomatoes for the chicken curry base.
  4. 4Dice onions for the chicken curry.
  5. 5Slice green chilies lengthwise.
  6. 6Wash basmati rice thoroughly to remove starch.
  7. 7Soak the washed basmati rice for 30 minutes.
  8. 8Add ghee to a pot for the chicken curry.
  9. 9Add whole spices (bay leaf, black cardamom, green cardamom, mace, nutmeg, cloves) to the ghee.
  10. 10Add diced onions to the pot and cook until the color changes, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
  11. 11Add ginger garlic paste to the onions and cook until aromatic.
  12. 12Stir in turmeric powder and chili powder.
  13. 13Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they become mashy.
  14. 14Add chicken (on the bone preferred) to the curry.
  15. 15Stir in whisked full-fat Greek yogurt.
  16. 16Season with salt.
  17. 17Let the chicken curry cook on slow fire.
  18. 18Boil water in a separate pot.
  19. 19Add salt and ghee to the boiling water.
  20. 20Add whole spices (cumin, mace, cinnamon sticks, dried bay leaf, cloves, green cardamom) to the boiling water to create a flavorful stock.
  21. 21Drain the soaked rice and add it to the flavorful boiling water.
  22. 22Cook the rice until it is 70-80% done, checking for a slight bite.
  23. 23Prepare the jhol by combining equal amounts of butter and cream with saffron.
  24. 24Ensure the saffron has infused its color and flavor into the jhol.
  25. 25Add a layer of jhol to the bottom of a clay pot or Dutch oven to prevent sticking and provide moisture.
  26. 26Add a layer of partially cooked rice over the jhol.
  27. 27Sprinkle golden fried onions over the rice.
  28. 28Add ginger juliennes and slit green chilies.
  29. 29Sprinkle fresh cilantro and mint.
  30. 30Arrange a layer of cooked chicken pieces.
  31. 31Drizzle more jhol and some chicken gravy over the chicken layer.
  32. 32Add another layer of rice.
  33. 33Repeat layers with fried onions, ginger juliennes, slit green chilies, mint, and cilantro.
  34. 34Add more gravy and top with a final layer of rice and a spoon of jhol.
  35. 35Prepare a dough (flour, water, oil, salt) and line it around the rim of the pot.
  36. 36Seal the pot with a lid, pressing it onto the dough to create an airtight seal for dum cooking.
  37. 37Place the sealed pot in the oven to cook for 20-25 minutes.
  38. 38Remove the pot from the oven after 20-25 minutes.
  39. 39Break the dough seal and open the pot.
  40. 40Gently mix the biryani layers together before serving.

Ingredients

  • red onions
  • tomatoes
  • diced onions
  • slivers of green chilies
  • basmati rice
  • ghee
  • bay leaf
  • black cardamom
  • green cardamom
  • mace
  • nutmeg
  • cloves
  • ginger garlic paste
  • turmeric powder
  • chili powder
  • whole chicken (or chicken whole legs cut on the bone)
  • whisked Greek yogurt
  • salt
  • cumin
  • cinnamon sticks
  • dried bay leaf
  • butter
  • cream
  • saffron
  • ginger juliennes
  • fresh cilantro
  • mint
  • dough (flour, water, a little oil, and salt)

Equipment

potovenclay potDutch oven

Tips

  • Cut onions thinly to ensure even frying at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Wash and soak basmati rice for 30 minutes to remove starch and impurities, and aid in cooking.
  • Cook chicken on the bone for better and stronger flavor.
  • Use full-fat Greek yogurt for body in the chicken curry.
  • Multi-task by cooking chicken on slow heat while preparing rice.
  • Boil rice in flavorful stock with whole spices for infused flavor.
  • Cook rice to 70-80% doneness before dum cooking.
  • Integrate saffron by using a medium of fat, dairy, or water to extract its flavor.
  • Seal the pot with dough for dum cooking to trap steam and infuse flavors.