Chicken Biriyani / Kozhi Biryani

Like I said in my Mutton Biriyani post there are plenty of ways to make biriyani and every household has their own unique recipe for the same. This recipe is from my mom which many moons ago was published in Vanitha magazine. Whenever I make chicken biriyani I stick to this recipe as it is easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before serving. So if you are planning to make biriyani on Christmas or New Year try this one and let me know :)

Chicken Biriyani / Kozhi Biryani

Ingredients:

For the Rice:

Basmati Rice  - ½ kg (3 cups)

Boiling water- 6 cups

Cinnamon sticks -2 x 1” piece

Cloves - 3

Cardamom - 3

Salt -to taste

Ghee – 3 tbsp

For the Chicken Korma:

Chicken – ½ kg

Onion, chopped – 1 cup

Garlic – 6 big cloves finely chopped

Ginger – 2 tsp finely chopped

Green Chillies, slit open - 2

Coriander leaves, chopped – 2 tbsp

Mint Leaves, chopped = 1 tbsp

Ghee- 4 tbsp

Cinnamon sticks - 3  x 1” piece

Cloves - 4

Cardamom - 4

Salt -to taste

Yogurt / Curd – ½ cup

Freshly squeezed Lime juice – 1 tsp

Grind to a fine paste:

Cashew nuts – 10 nos

Khus Khus  / Poppy seeds -1 tbsp

Fennel Seeds / Perum Jeerakom – ½ tsp

Kismis / Raisins – 1 tsp

Coriander Powder / Mallipodi – 2tsp

Kashmiri Chilly Powder – 2 tsp

Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp

Method:

• Preparing the Rice: Wash rice and drain out the excess water.
• In a non-stick pan heat 3 tbsp ghee and add cinnamon, cloves and cardamom and sauté for few seconds and add the rice. Stir continuously on high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add boiling water and salt, stir well and cook covered on low heat until the water has been absorbed. Gently stir the rice with a fork and keep aside.
• Preparing the Chicken Korma: Cut chicken to medium pieces and clean properly. Mix ground ingredients in ½ cup yogurt and marinate chicken pieces in this mixture and keep aside for 1 hour.
• Heat 4 tbsp ghee in a non stick pan. Add chopped onion, ginger and garlic and sauté till golden brown.
• Add cinnamon sticks, cloves and cardamom and sauté well.
• Into this add marinated chicken pieces along with the marinade, salt and green chillies and sauté well.
• Add little boiling water and cook till the chicken pieces cooked thoroughly and the gravy thickens.
• Finally add coriander leaves and mint leaves, mix well and let the curry a nice boil turn off the heat and keep aside.
• Assemble the Biriyani: Grease an ovenproof baking dish with some ghee.  Divide the rice into three portions. Spread one portion to the bottom of the dish. Cover the rice with half of the cooked chicken. Spread another layer of rice on top, and then cover with the rest of the chicken. Finally top the chicken with the last portion of rice. Drizzle some saffron or turmeric soaked in milk and ghee on the rice.
• Pre-heat oven to 180˚C and bake biriyani for 10-15 minutes or until heated thoroughly.
• Garnish biriyani with some golden fried onions, cashews and raisins. Serve with Biriyani Salad (Onion and yogurt salad), Lime pickle, dates pickle and pappad.

Biriyani Salad (Onion and Yogurt Salad)

Yogurt / Curd – 1 cup

Onion – 1 medium chopped

Tomato – 1 medium chopped

Green chilly – 1, chopped

Salt to taste

Mix everything and serve with Biriyani.