Chicken Biryani

Chicken biryani is the queen of all biryani's. A rich rice dish prepared by using spices and of course chicken too. It is a favourite of my family, especially my husband loves chicken  biryani :))
Biryani is a perfect dish for entertaining a crowd and  for the  holiday season....

Ingredients: You will need
4 cups basmati (long grain ) rice
4 medium sized onions grated 
5 tbsp oil
3 to 4 cloves
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 cinnamon stick
2 tsp fresh garlic
2 tsp freshly grated ginger
2 tsp freshly chopped green chillies
2 medium sized tomatoes pureed
2 tsp salt
1 tsp red chilli powder
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp garam masala powder
4 to 5 cardamom
4 lb chicken thighs medium sized
1 cup water
2 bay leaves
1/4 cup freshly chopped coriander leaves
1/4 cup freshly cut mint leaves
8 to 10 saffron strands
1/4 cup milk
2 medium onion sliced thinly
3 tbsp oil
Yoghurt Marinade
1 cup plain yoghurt
1 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tbsp garam masala
1 tsp freshly lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1 tsp red chilli powder

Chicken Biryani 

Method
1. Wash and boil the rice for 10 to 12 minutes, drain and keep aside.
2. Wash and clean the chicken thighs, and add to the Yoghurt marinade and keep for about 30 minutes.
3. In a medium size bowl, mix yoghurt along with the other marinade ingredients and add the chicken.Keep aside.
4.Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pan, add cumin seeds, bay leaves,cloves,cinnamon stick and add the grated onions. Stir till golden brown,add in the pureed tomatoes,ginger,garlic and green chillies and continue cooking till oil appears on the sides of the pan.Add the spices and the marinated chicken. Stir together for about 10 minutes,allowing the chicken to mix well with the onion and tomatoes. Add 1/2 cup water and boil covered for 10 to 12 minutes till chicken is cooked in the  curry. Keep the chicken curry aside.
5. In a separate wok fry the thinly sliced onions.Add cardamom  and bay leaves. Fry the onions till they are brown and crisp. Drain over  paper towel and keep aside.
6. Microwave the 1/4 cup milk for a few seconds,add the saffron strands.
7.To start layering ,first place a layer of cooked rice in  a deep baking tray .Add a few sprinkles of saffron milk,then add a layer of the chicken curry.Next add a layer of fried onions,followed by again a rice layer,add mint leaves too , repeat these layers. Cover the baking dish with silver foil and put in the oven to bake at 350 F for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Baking  the Biryani 

Chicken Biryani

Optional:You could boil 2 eggs till hard boiled, peel the shell and slice thinly to decorate over prepared biryani, garnish with freshly chopped coriander ,fried onions, cashews and mint leaves.
Enjoy~

Vegetarian Biryani

Vegetarian Biryani is a  favorite in my family. When I got married, I didn't have much experience in cooking, so I decided to learn few dishes and this is an outcome of that learning.

Biryani  is prepared by cooking rice and layering it with vegetables and spices.  Saffron and mint leaves are used in this dish that give it a flavorful aroma. Its a great dish for entertaining or as a main dish too.

Ingredients

2 cups Basmati rice

2 cups water to cook the rice

1 medium carrot chopped in cubes

1/2 cup peas (semi cooked or fresh)

1/4 cup cut cauliflower florets

1/4 cup  fresh green beans chopped in  small cubes

2  medium size onion pureed

1 medium size onion sliced thin and shallow fry to use later.

2  medium tomato pureed

2 tsp ginger garlic paste

4 to 5 green chilies chopped

3 to 4 mint leaves

2 tsp salt

1 tsp red chili powder

1/2 tsp turmeric

2 to 3 bay leaves

2 to 3 small cardamom, peel and use the seeds

1 tsp Freshly ground garam masala powder/ready masala powder  available in Indian stores.

5 tbsp oil

4 to 5  strands of saffron, soak saffron strands  in 1/4 cup milk.

1/4 cashews ,shallow fried.

1/4 cup water

Method:

1. Rinse the rice well ,soak in 2 cups water for about 10 to 15 minute ,cook rice in open pan for approximately 20 minutes, till fluffy and cooked, but don't overcook the rice,drain and keep aside. 

2. Heat oil in a skillet,add  onions, bay leaves saute till  onions appear golden brown,add in the spices,ginger garlic paste,green chilies, small cardamom and tomato puree. Cook another few minutes,add in the vegetables, garam masala and 1/4 cup water, cover with a lid  to cook the vegetables over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Keep the ready vegetable gravy aside.

3. To start layering, dish out a layer of cooked rice on the bottom of  a rectangular baking  dish.Add few sprinkles of saffron milk over the layered rice,next add a big tbsp of cooked vegetable gravy. Follow with the cooked rice layer, Layer with fried onions,cashew and chopped mint leaves. Again follow with rice layer,followed with vegetable gravy layer.
4. Repeat these layers, Cover with silver foil and bake in oven for about 15 to 20 minutes.Take out of oven, garnish with finely chopped coriander leaves Serve hot biryani  with raita or  plain yogurt.

Vegetable Biryani

Do share your recipes & ideas with all . Could be something new you tried out or something that your family loves to eat together. You can email the photo and recipe at  my gmail address (viyasameer@gmail.com). 


Sending this post to Srav's event of Vegan Diet 

Rasi's event :)  http://rascookbook.blogspot.com/2012/02/im-star-my-first-event.html