
CHICKEN BIRYANI
Ingredients
MARINADE
- 750 grams Chicken breast cut into bite-sized chunks
- 4 tbsp Yogurt
- 1 tbsp Ginger grated
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Turmeric
- 1/2 tsp Red chilli powder or flakes
- 2 Tbsp Lemon juice
- 2 Bay leaves
- 6 Cardamon pods
- 9 Cloves
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 2 Star anise
- 1 tsp Cumin seeds
OTHER INGREDIENTS
- 3 cups Basmati rice
- 3 Tbsp Ghee or Oil
- 1 ½ Onions Thinly sliced
- ¾ cup Mint leaves Chopped
- 1 cup Yogurt
- ½ tsp Red chili powder optional
- 2 tsp Garam masala or biryani masala
- 4 cups Chicken stock
- 1 pinch Saffron Soaked in 2 tbsps hot water
Instructions
- DIRECTIONS
- To a bowl, add yogurt, ginger, garlic, salt, garam masala, turmeric, lemon juice & red chili powder.
- Mix well and taste the marinade. Add more salt and spice if needed.
- Add chicken to the marinade & mix well. Cover and set aside for 1 hour
- Rinse basmati rice three times and soak for 30 mins then drain to a colander.
HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN BIRYANI
- Heat oil in a pressure cooker.
- Add whole spices – bay leaf, cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, & cumin seeds
- When the spices begin to sizzle, add onions & fry them evenly stirring often until uniformly light brown but not burnt.
- Add chicken & saute until pale for 5 mins on a medium heat.
- Cook on a low flame until the chicken is soft cooked or tender. Saute to evaporate any excess moisture in the pot.
- Taste test and add more salt if needed. Add yogurt, half of the chopped mint leaves, red chilli powder & garam masala., cup plain yogurt, and 2 teaspoons garam masala
LAYERING
- Mix everything well and layer chicken evenly at the bottom
- Spread drained rice in a layer over the chicken.
- To a separate pot bring chicken stock to a rolling boil. Pour 3 cups of the stock across the sides of the cooker or pot. Gently pour the rest on top of the rice.
- Level the rice if needed. Sprinkle the rest of the mint leaves. Add saffron
- Set the flame to medium high. Cook for 3 min at pressure then turn off. Rest until the pressure drops naturally. Fluff up the chicken biryani with a fork. Enjoy chicken biryani with raita, papadoms and Indian pickle
Notes
This recipe is designed to be done in a pressure cooker. Feel free to use a saucepan instead but increase cooking time to around 40 minutes.