southern recipes

Biryani Recipe

Biryani is a special spiced rice dish made with meat, various spices, and ghee. It originated in the Indian subcontinent but is now popular in the Middle East and other Muslim countries as well. There are many variations of biryani, but here is a basic chicken biryani recipe:

Ingredients:

• Rice: 2 cups (Basmati rice is ideal)
• Chicken: 500 grams (cut into pieces)
• Onions: 2 (sliced)
• Tomatoes: 2 (chopped)
• Ginger-Garlic Paste: 2 tablespoons
• Yogurt: 1/2 cup
• Red Chili Powder: 1 tablespoon
• Coriander Powder: 1 tablespoon
• Garam Masala Powder: 1 tablespoon
• Cumin Powder: 1 teaspoon
• Cinnamon: 2 sticks
• Cardamom: 4 pods
• Cloves: 4-5
• Bay Leaves: 2
• Saffron: A pinch (soaked in milk)
• Ghee or Oil: 4 tablespoons
• Salt: To taste
• Cilantro and Mint Leaves: 1/2 cup (chopped)
• Lemon Juice: 1 tablespoon

Instructions:

1. Cooking the Rice:

1. First, wash the Basmati rice thoroughly.
2. In a pot, bring water to a boil, add a little salt and bay leaves, then add the rice.
3. Cook the rice until it's about 70% done, then drain and set it aside.

2. Marinating the Chicken:

1. Marinate the chicken pieces with ginger-garlic paste, yogurt, red chili powder, coriander powder, garam masala, cumin powder, and salt. Let it sit for 1 hour.

3. Preparing the Biryani:

1. Heat ghee or oil in a large pot. Add cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and bay leaves. Sauté for a few seconds.
2. Add sliced onions and fry until they turn golden brown.
3. Add the marinated chicken and cook until the meat is well-browned and cooked through.
4. Add chopped tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes soften and mix well with the chicken.
5. Once the chicken is cooked, layer the semi-cooked rice over the chicken mixture.
6. Sprinkle the saffron milk, chopped cilantro, mint leaves, and lemon juice on top.
7. Cover the pot tightly and cook on low heat (dum) for about 20-25 minutes, allowing the flavors to infuse into the rice.

4. Serving:

1. Once done, serve the biryani hot.
2. It pairs well with a side of salad, raita, or borhani.

Try out this recipe, and it might just become a favorite in your household!