Malabar Chicken Biryani

Malabar Chicken Biryani - Recipe from Blogs

Ingredients:
Basmati Rice - 3cups
Chicken - 1/2kg (About 8 big pieces)
Onion, sliced thinly - 3cups
Tomatoes, chopped - 11/2cups
Curd - 1/2 cup
Lemon juice - 1tbsp+1tbsp
Coriander leaves, chopped - 1 cup(or half a bunch)
Mint leaves, chopped - 1/2 cup
Curry leaves - a few
Biryani Masala powder- 2tsp
(Biryani Masala powder -
Dry roast & grind to a fine powder the following:-

Cinnamon-1 big stick,Cardamom-3,Cloves-4,
Nutmeg-quarter, Mace-3
Fennel seed-1/2tsp,Shahjeera-1/2tsp,Cumin seed-1/2 tsp)

Boiled Eggs - 2nos.
Raisins & Cashewnuts for garnishing
Rose water - 1tbsp(optional)
Saffron - a few strands(optional)
Ghee/Butter - as needed
Oil as needed
Salt as needed

For Marinating chicken
Turmeric powder - 1/4tsp
Chilli powder - 1/2tsp
Salt as needed

For Grinding
Green chillies - 5nos.
Garlic,chopped - 1tbsp
Ginger,chopped - 1tbsp
Poppy seeds,soaked in water - 1tsp.

Method:
Soak rice in water for half an hour. Rinse and drain. Roast the drained rice in ghee/ghee+oil/oil for few minutes. Add 6 cups of boiling water & salt and cook rice till done. Spread rice in a flat plate & sprinkle 1tbsp lemon juice.

Marinate chicken pieces in turmeric, chilli & salt for 30 min(preferably in refrigerator).

Fry raisins and cashewnuts in ghee, till brown and keep aside. Fry half of the sliced onions till golden & keep aside. In the same pan shallow fry the marinated chicken pieces for a few minutes.

Heat oil/ghee in another pan and saute the remaining onions till translucent. Add the ground paste and saute. When the raw smell goes, add tomatoes, curd, lemon juice and salt. Saute till oil separates. Add the chopped leaves and fry for a minute. Now, add the chicken pieces, mix well & transfer it to a pressure cooker. Add 1/2-3/4 cup of boiling water and pressure cook for 5-6 minutes or till done. If there is more gravy, open cook till the required consistency is obtained.

In an oven-proof dish, spread half of the rice, layer the chicken pieces on top and layer the remaining rice on it. Sprinkle saffron(mixed in rosewater). Garnish with fried cashews, raisins & onions. Cover & microwave for 4 min on high. Alternately you can bake it for 15-30 min at 150 deg. celsius. Mix thoroughly and serve with boiled eggs(hidden in rice), raita & pickle.

Other Related Recipes:
Prawn Biryani
Chilli Chicken
Chicken Curry
Kerala Chicken Roast