Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani

INGREDIENTS

 1 kg
Chicken, cut into medium size pieces
0.5 kg  Basmati Rice
1.5 cups Water 3 Large onions, finely sliced
1 tsp Ginger Paste 3 Green chilies, chopped
1 tsp Garlic Paste 1 cup Fresh mint leaves, chopped
1 cup Fresh coriander leaves, chopped 1 tsp Red chili powder
10 strands Saffron 0.5 cups Milk
2 cups Yoghurt 3 tbsp Lemon juice
7 Cloves 2 Bay leaves
5 Green cardamoms 1 piece Cinnamon stick, 1-inch long
2 tbsp Ghee 0.75 cup Oil
Pinch Salt, to taste

Grind to a paste
7 Cloves 4 Cardamoms
1 piece Cinnamon stick, 1/2 inch long 1/2 tsp Whole pepper

 

Preparation
1. Soak saffron in milk. Keep aside. Heat oil

2. Fry the onions till golden brown in colour. Set aside to cool.

3. When cool, grind coarsely and set aside.

4. Rub ginger and garlic paste all over the chicken.

5. Add red chilli powder, salt, half of the mint and coriander, lemon juice, green chillies, the ground spices, crushed onions, yoghurt and the oil in which the onions were fried.

6. Marinate for 2 hours.

Direction
1. In a heavy-bottomed pan, put the chicken along with the marinade and cook on medium heat until the chicken is tender and the liquid is not fully dried.

2. Boil 1.5 glasses of water. Add the whole cloves, bay leaves, cardamoms and cinnamon to the water.

3. Add salt to taste and the rice.Parboil the rice and Drain out the water and spread the rice on a plate.

4. In a separate heavy-bottomed pan, apply ghee on the bottom. Place half the rice in a layer. Cover the layer with the cooked chicken.

5. Sprinkle the saffron milk and balance mint and coriander over the rice.

6. Pour the ghee all over the rice. Seal the pan tightly and cook over slow fire till the rice is fully cooked. Do not overcook the rice.

7. Carefully remove the rice to a serving dish without mixing the chicken and the rice. Serve hot.