16/05/2026
*Chicken Biryani* 🍗🌾
*Ingredients*
*For the chicken marinade:*
- 800g chicken 🍗
- ½ cup plain yogurt 🥛
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste 🧄🫚
- 1 tsp garam masala 🌶️
- 1 tsp chili powder 🌶️
- ½ tsp turmeric 💛
- 1 tsp salt 🧂
- Juice of ½ lemon 🍋
*For the rice:*
- 2 cups basmati rice 🌾, soaked 20 min
- 4 cups water 💧
- 2 bay leaves 🍃, 4 cloves, 4 cardamom pods, 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tsp salt 🧂
*For layering & garnish:*
- 2 onions 🧅, sliced and fried till golden 🤎
- Pinch of saffron + 2 tbsp warm milk 🥛✨ or yellow food color
- 2 tbsp ghee/oil 🧈
- Fresh coriander 🌿 and mint leaves 🌿
- 1 tbsp ghee for drizzling 🧈
*Method*
*1. Marinate the chicken* 🥣
Mix chicken with yogurt + spices. Cover and rest 30 min - 2 hrs ❄️
*2. Parboil the rice* 🍚
Boil water with whole spices + salt. Add rice, cook 5-6 min till 70% done. Drain.
*3. Cook the chicken* 🔥
Heat ghee/oil. Add marinated chicken and cook 10-12 min till almost done and oil separates.
*4. Layer it up* 🪜
- Chicken + gravy at the bottom 🍗
- Layer half the rice 🌾
- Sprinkle fried onions, coriander, mint, saffron milk ✨
- Repeat with remaining rice + toppings
- Drizzle ghee on top 🧈
*5. Dum cook* ♨️
Cover pot tightly. Cook on very low heat 20-25 min. Don’t open the lid!
*6. Rest & serve* 😋
Rest 10 min, then fluff gently with a fork 🍴. Serve with raita 🥒 or kachumbari 🥗
