SPECIAL BIRYANI RECIPE

Here's a detailed recipe for Chicken Biryani, a flavorful and aromatic dish that's popular in South Asia:

 

### Ingredients:

 

#### For Marinating Chicken:

- 500g chicken, cut into pieces

- 1 cup yogurt

- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste

- 1 teaspoon red chili powder

- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

- 1 teaspoon garam masala

- Salt to taste

- 1 tablespoon lemon juice

 

#### For Rice:

- 2 cups basmati rice

- 4 cups water

- 2 bay leaves

- 4-5 green cardamom pods

- 4-5 cloves

- 1-inch cinnamon stick

- Salt to taste

 

#### For Biryani:

- 2 large onions, thinly sliced

- 2 tomatoes, chopped

- 2-3 green chilies, slit

- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste

- 1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves, chopped

- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, chopped

- 1 teaspoon red chili powder

- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

- 1 teaspoon garam masala

- 1/2 cup milk (optional: add a pinch of saffron to the milk)

- 1/4 cup ghee or oil

- 1/4 cup fried onions (for garnish)

 

### Instructions:

 

#### Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

1. In a large bowl, mix yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, salt, and lemon juice.

2. Add the chicken pieces to the mixture, coat them well, and marinate for at least 30 minutes, preferably overnight in the refrigerator.

 

#### Step 2: Cook the Rice

1. Rinse the basmati rice in cold water until the water runs clear.

2. In a large pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add bay leaves, cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon stick, and salt.

3. Add the rice and cook until it is 70-80% done (the rice should be slightly undercooked). Drain the rice and set it aside.

 

#### Step 3: Cook the Chicken

1. Heat ghee or oil in a large pan. Add the sliced onions and sauté until golden brown.

2. Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté until the raw smell disappears.

3. Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until they soften.

4. Add the marinated chicken to the pan. Cook on medium heat until the chicken is done and the oil starts to separate from the gravy.

5. Add green chilies, coriander leaves, mint leaves, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and garam masala. Mix well.

 

#### Step 4: Layering the Biryani

1. In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, spread a layer of the cooked chicken at the bottom.

2. Add a layer of half-cooked rice over the chicken.

3. Sprinkle some fried onions, fresh coriander, and mint leaves over the rice.

4. Repeat the layers until all the chicken and rice are used up, finishing with a layer of rice on top.

5. Pour the saffron-infused milk over the rice (optional).

6. Cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid or seal it with aluminum foil.

 

#### Step 5: Dum Cooking (Steam Cooking)

1. Place the sealed pot on a tawa (flat pan) and cook on low heat for 25-30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

2. Alternatively, you can bake the biryani in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 25-30 minutes.

 

#### Step 6: Serve🍱

1. Once cooked, carefully mix the layers together.

2. Garnish with fried onions and serve hot with raita (yogurt sauce) and salad.

 

Enjoy your homemade Chicken Biryani!🍽🍻