Hyderabadi Chicken Biryani

I first became obsessed with Chicken Biryani when I visited Hyderabad in the summer of 2014. In South India I tried every type of biryani possible: Chettinad Biryani, Dum Biryani, Mutton Biryani, Lamb Biryani, Vegetable Biryani, Bombay Biryani, Kerala Chicken Biryani, Pakistani Chicken Biryani. So yes, I consider myself somewhat of a biryani connoisseur. The biryani masalsa with its flavorful spices, and aroma... were incomparable to anything I expected or tasted in the US. I vividly remember my first thoughts being - if I were to be trapped on a deserted island for the rest of my life, I might be okay if I had an endless supply of this delicious biryani. After that out of the world experience, I did everything in my power to recreate the taste at home. After visiting endless biryani restaurants including: Paradise Biryani, Biryani Pot, Asiana's, etc, and after countless trial and errors with various recipes; I believe I have mastered the art of biryani. Now, to the recipe...

• Ready In: 1 hr 10 mins
• Serves: 15

Ingredients

• 2  onions
• 10 -20  chilies (thai chillies work best)
• 1 -2  tomatoes
•  basmati rice, - 4 cups
•  chicken, - 3 lbs (I prefer dark meat, bone-in)
•  yogurt, - 1 -2 cups
• 2  lemons or 2  limes
• 1  bunch mint
• 1⁄4 cup  seasoning biryani masala, i use the shan version
• 5  cloves
• 3 -4  cardamom
• 1 -2  bay leaf
• 1 -2  anise
• 3  black cardamom pods
• 1 -2  tablespoon mace
• 4 -5  tablespoons red chili powder
• 4 -5  tablespoons garam masala
• 7 -8  saffron
• 1  tablespoon  shah jeera powder
• 1 -2  tablespoon cumin seed
• 3  cinnamon sticks
• 6  ounces  ginger-garlic paste

Directions

1. hyderabadi chicken biryani gravy.
2. Marinate chicken overnight with yogurt, salt, lemon, and red chilli powder.
3. Slice onions thin and length-wise. Fry in oil until brown and crispy. Remove and set aside by soaking in paper towels.
4. Use the remainder oil to add the following spices: (cloves, cardomom, bay leaf, anise, black cardomom, mase, shah jeera, cumin seeds, cinnamon sticks).
5. Once fragrant, add in the tomatoes, chillies and girnger/garlic paste.
6. Now, add in the garam masala.
7. After stirring a few mins, add in the marinated chicken.
8. Now, add in the Shan Biryani Masala.
9. Stir and cover with a lid over medium-low heat. This will need to cook for an hr or so. The longer it cooks, the more tender the meat will be.
10. Soak the basmati rice in cool water after flushing about 3-4 times.
11. Boil around 6 cups of water for the 4 cups of rice, Add in the rice. Heat uncovered until the first boil appears within the first 10-15 minutes.
12. Use the tray and line the first layer with gravy and chicken from earlier. Now add a layer on top with the semi- cooked rice. Top with garnish of mint and the fried onion from earlier.
13. Continue with step 11 until the tray is full.
14. Soak the saffron layers in warm milk for a couple minutes Garnish this dilution over the top of the biryani.
15. Cover the tray with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.
16. Enjoy!