Chicken Biryani

Submitted by Carla C.

"Biryani is a combination of rice with meat, chicken, shrimp, vegetables or fish. It is a meal within itself. Don't be put off by the long list of ingredients, it is really an easy dish to prepare and tasty too."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 30mins
• Ingredients: 25
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups basmati rice, rinsed
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 5 whole cardamom pods
• 2 -3 whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 onions, sliced
• 4 (6 ounce) chicken breasts, cubed
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 5 cardamom pods, seeds removed and ground
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground chile
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1⁄2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger
• 1 lemon, juice of
• 4 tomatoes, sliced
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 2⁄3 cup plain yogurt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon saffron thread, soaked in 2 Tablespoons hot milk
• 2⁄3 cup water
• 3 tablespoons toasted slivered almonds, for garnish
• fresh cilantro stem (to garnish)
• plain yogurt, to serve

directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Bring a pan of water to a boil and add the rice, salt, cardamom pods, cloves and cinnamon stick; boil for two minutes and then drain, leaving the whole spices in the rice.
3. Heat the oil in a pan and fry the onions for about 8 minutes, until browned.
4. Add the chicken, followed by the ground cloves, cardamom, chilies, cumin, coriander, black pepper, garlic, ginger and lemon juice; stir-fry 5 minutes.
5. Transfer the chicken mixture to a casserole and lay the sliced tomatoes on top.
6. Sprinkle on the cilantro, spoon on the plain yogurt and top with drained basmati rice.
7. Drizzle the saffron and milk over the rice and pour on 2/3 cup water.
8. Cover tightly and bake in the oven for 1 hour.
9. Transfer to a warmed serving platter and remove the whole spices from the rice.
10. Garnish with toasted almonds and freshly chopped cilantro and serve with plain yogurt.

Reviews

[Pamela]

I liked the recipe but it was rather bland. I expected more flavor with all the spices that were used. It was easy to make, the rice was very good, I would probably use four red chillies the next time.I was unsure as to how much cilantro to add and when to add it.

 

[Charishma_Ramchandani]

That recipe is really inviting!