Chicken Biryani

   The benefit of making chicken biryani at home is I can adjust the spice level so that my kiddo can enjoy it and then I don't have to cook anything for him separately. Although it takes a bit of time and preparation for making biryani the result is worth the wait and effort :-)

Here's a simple recipe for making biryani at home--  

Ingredients-

For marinating chicken-

1. Chicken-200 gms (with bones or boneless as per preference)
2. Curd- 1 cup
3. Ginger-garlic paste- 2 tbsp.
4. Turmeric, red chili powder, cumin powder, coriander powder- 1 tbsp. each

Marinate the chicken with ginger-garlic paste, curd and all dried spices, mix well and keep aside for 30 to 45 minutes. The longer you keep it marinated the better it tastes.

Ingredients for making the Birayni-

1. Basmati rice - 2 cups
2.  2medium sized onion cut horizontally into thin pieces
3.  2 medium sized tomato or 1 cup tomato puree
4.  Ginger-garlic paste-2 tbsp
5.  2-3 green chilies
6.  2-3 cloves, cardamom, 1 tej patta
7.  Oil - 2tbsp 
8.  Ghee- 2tbsp 
9.  Salt as per taste 
10.  Garam masala or biryani masala, if using.

Recipe-

1. Wash rice in water 2-3 times and put it on a strainer so that excess water drains out.
2. Heat oil +ghee in a pressure pan or cooker or you can use a thick-based pan also. You can either one of them as well but I used both. Add tej patta, cloves, cardamom, then add onion and fry till it turns brown.
3. Now add ginger, garlic paste, tomatoes, slit green chilies and fry again.
4. Then add turmeric powder, red chili powder and cover it for a minute or two.
5. Keep a spoonful of this mixture aside that will be used for making curry.
6. Now add the marinated chicken, mix well with little water. Let it cook so that chicken becomes tender but its not cooked complete. This usually takes 10 minutes.
7. Add rice now and mix lightly taking care that the rice grains are not broken.
8. Add salt, garam masala or biryani masala and water. Cover the lid and cook for 1 or 2 whistles. Rice should not turn mushy. Alternatively you can also use semi-cooked rice and then just hard boil it by closing the lid.

While the biryani is getting ready lets make the curry for accompaniment. Grind the onion, tomato mixture into a smooth paste. Fry it in little oil, add water, salt and garam masala and boil it.

 Garnish biryani with coriander leaves.

Serve with papad and raita of your choice. Yumm:-)