Make this mouth-watering dish tonight! Infused with Indian flavours like cardamom, cinnamon and cloves, this classic dish is served with basmati rice and homemade onion pachadi on top.
SERVES
4
Ingredients
Onion Pachadi
2 cups plain yogurt
1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion
Salt, to taste
Chicken Biryani
2 cups basmati rice
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons ghee
1 stick cinnamon
2 star anise
6 cardamom pods
2 bay leaves
5 cloves
1 large onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, finely grated
1 tablespoon ginger, finely grated
6 Thai green chilis, finely chopped
1 tomato, cut into 4 pieces
1/2 of a whole chicken, breast and thigh cut into large pieces
Salt to taste
1.5 cups water
1.5 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup chopped mint
1/4 cup chopped coriander
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Directions
Onion Pachadi
Combine yogurt, sweet onions, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside for serving.
Chicken Biryani
Rinse the rice until water runs clear. Then soak for 20 minutes in room temperature water. This prevents the grains from breaking while they cook.
In a medium dutch oven, heat oil and ghee on medium-high heat. When hot, add all spices including cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, bay leaf and cloves and saute until cloves puff.
Add onions, and saute until they soften. Then add garlic, ginger, and chillis. Cook for two to three minutes until they soften and become fragrant.
Add the tomatoes, and cook for two minutes until slightly softened, followed by chicken.
Season with salt to taste. Bring to a simmer, stirring often to coat the chicken, and reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 10 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
Add the water and broth, return heat to high, and bring to a boil.
Drain the rice in a colander, and add to the pot. Gently stir, adding chopped mint, coriander, and lemon juice. Return to a simmer, then drop the heat to low.
Cover the pot with aluminum foil and lid, and cook for 12 to 15 minutes until all liquid has been absorbed.