Simple Chicken Biryani

50m
Serves 1
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Directions

  1. 1Clean & wash the chicken pieces. Drain the water or pat dry.
  2. 2Slice the onions and tomatoes. Slit 6 green chillies.
  3. 3Chop 1 cup coriander leaves and 1 cup mint.
  4. 4Whisk the yogurt and set aside.
  5. 5Wash & soak the basmati rice for 30 mins.
  6. 6Heat 6 tbsp oil in a heavy bottom pan and add the sliced onions.
  7. 7Fry on high heat for around 12 mins till the onions are light brown.
  8. 8Add the ginger garlic paste and fry on low heat for 2 mins.
  9. 9Now add the chicken pieces, mix and fry on high heat for 2-3 mins.
  10. 10Add the ready made biryani masala, mix and fry on medium heat for 3 mins after adding a splash of water.
  11. 11Now add the sliced tomatoes, mix it well and cook on medium to low heat for 4-5 mins till soft.
  12. 12Keep the heat on low and add the whisked curd/yogurt. Give a mix and then add the chopped coriander and mint leaves.
  13. 13Cook on low heat for 2 mins till oil separates.
  14. 14Cover & cook on low heat for around 20-25 mins till chicken is tender. Remove lid after 10 mins, give a mix and close the lid again.
  15. 15Dry up any excess water to get a thick gravy.
  16. 16Take one more heavy bottom pan & add around 2.5 litres of water. Place it on high heat.
  17. 17Once the water starts to boil or bubble, add shah jeera, green cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and salt.
  18. 18Stir it well to dissolve the salt completely. The water must be very salty.
  19. 19Once the water starts boiling, add the strained basmati rice & stir it well.
  20. 20Continue to boil it on high heat, stirring few times very gently to not break the rice.
  21. 21After 8-9 minutes when the basmati rice is almost done (90%) remove it from heat and strain the water. Set it aside.
  22. 22Take a heavy bottom pan and spread half the cooked rice as the 1st layer.
  23. 23Now spread the cooked chicken with gravy on top of the rice uniformly.
  24. 24Next, spread the balance rice as the top layer.
  25. 25Sprinkle some mint leaves on top of the rice. Close the lid and cook on low heat for 7-8 mins.
  26. 26Allow it to rest for around 20 mins.
  27. 27Once you open the lid, mix the chicken and rice evenly.

Ingredients

  • 1 kg chicken, large pieces with bones
  • 700 gms basmati rice
  • 400 gms onions, sliced
  • 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
  • 4 medium tomatoes, sliced
  • 6 numbers green chillies, slit
  • 1 cup coriander leaves, chopped
  • 1 cup mint leaves, chopped
  • 1 cup whisked curd/plain yogurt
  • 5 tbsp ready made biryani masala
  • 0.5 tsp shahjeera (caraway seeds)
  • 4 green cardamom
  • 4 cloves
  • 2 pieces cinnamon
  • 2.5 tbsp salt
  • 2.5 litres water to boil the rice
  • 10 leaves mint leaves

Equipment

heavy bottom pan