The Best Biryani

Rabia's Note:

When I make this recipe, I take out so many spices but it is well worth it. My family and friends can't get enough.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 20

• 5 lbs goat meat or 5 lbs chicken
• 4 tablespoons canola oil
• 3 medium onions
• 2 teaspoons garlic paste
• 2 teaspoons ginger paste
• 2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup yogurt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 10 whole cloves
• 8 green cardamom pods
• 4 black cardamom pods
• 10 black peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• 2 teaspoons coriander powder
• 2 teaspoons garam masala
• 2 teaspoons curry powder
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 teaspoons salt
• 2 bay leaves
• 10 dried plums
• 4 fresh green chilies
• 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
• 1 pinch saffron
• 9 cups basmati rice
• 15 cups water

Directions:

1. Soak rice for half an hour.
2. Cook in rice cooker with 15 cups of water. Cook rice until almost done.
3. Fry onions in oil until golden brown.
4. Add ginger and garlic.
5. Add chili powder, cloves, cardamom, pepper corn, cumin, curry, graham masala, coriander, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, dried plums, and salt.
6. Add yogurt.
7. Add tomatoes and cook until dry.
8. Add meat.
9. Add green chiles.
10. Cook until meat is done and add water if needed.
11. Add cilantro.
12. Mix saffron with hot water.
13. Layer rice and meat mixture and sprinkle with saffron mixture.
14. Put in oven at 350°F for 20 minutes.

Reviews

[hutamk]

I just tried out this recipe this weekend for my friends and they LOVED it, but I didn't make 9 cups of rice I added exactly half of that and it turned out FANTASTIC every body enjoyed it and I thought its awesome... thank you for the great recipe :)

[Anum Qazi]

It was ,no doubt, the best biryani ever. It just had the taste of a restaurant biryani. The meat was completely tender and I disagree with everyone who thinks the rice quantity was more, because it turned out to be perfect for me. Please post some more recipes of different kinds of biryani. Thanks a lot..

[jpatel02004]

I didn't have any plums and ran out of expensive saffron, but I had the rest of the ingredients and really enjoyed making myself some Biryani. The only thing I did differently was mix the freshly cooked Basmati rice with the already-cooked chicken masala. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but I was so hungry. I couldn't handle looking and smelling delicious food for much longer! I'm sure baking is the traditional method and makes for a nice presentation, but I grew up with some familiarity with Indian cooking...Indian restaurants make plenty of changes to what is considered "traditional" cuisine. Go with your gut and experiment a little.

After mixing some rice in to create my meal, I did have some left over. Next time, I'll decrease the total amount to cook. I will also buy more saffron...it's not good to cheat.