Fried Chicken Biriyani

Photo: Asha

Ingredients

cup Basmati Rice- 2

Bay leaves - 1no

Cinnamon sticks - 4no

Cloves - 6no

Cardamom - 2no

Black cardamom - 2no

Star anise - 4pieces

Yogurt - 3tbsp

Cashew nut paste - 3tbsp

Oil- 21/2tbsp

Ghee - 3tbsp

Salt- to taste

Marinating Chicken - atleast 1hr

Chicken, bone in- 12 pieces

teaspoon Ginger-Garlic paste- 2

teaspoon Turmeric powder- ¼

teaspoon Chilly powder- 2

teaspoon Garam Masala- 1

Cumin Powder - 1tsp

Coriander powder - 1tsp

Pepper powder - 1tsp

teaspoon Lemon juice- 2

Yogurt - 1tbsp

Salt - To taste

Oil - 1tbsp

Preparation

Wash and soak the Rice for a minimum 1/2 hour.

In a pan, bring 8 cups of water to boil. Once boiling, add cloves(3),cinnamon sticks(1),star anise(1),Bay Leaves(1),Salt and Oil (1tsp).

In a separate bowl, mix Saffron and Water (1tbsp), keep aside and allow it to soak.Add the washed Rice to boiling water. Once the Water starts boiling again, time and cook for 5 minutes (the Rice needs to be 3/4 way done). Drain the water from the Rice and keep aside.

Heat a pan on high ,add Oil(5tbsp) once hot add the marinated chicken pieces and fry them ,and keep aside.

Heat a pan on medium heat, add in the Oil and the Clarified Butter(ghee). Once hot, add in the balance of whole spices – Cinnaraw smell goes off.Now add mint leaves ,coriander leaves fry for couple of mins .

Add the finely chopped onions,fry till transculate,add salt,green chilli and now fry till onions turn light brown color,then add the ginger garlic paste and till it leaves it raw smell.

Add the coriander powder,chilli powder and mix well,add cashew nut paste, yogurt add little water and cook for 5min. now add the fried chicken pieces. cook for 2min then turn off the heat.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit .Coat an oven-proof dish with a little oil.

Start by layering the Chicken at the bottom of the dish along with a few pieces of fried onions (saving the gravy for top layer).

Fluff up the Rice and add a layer of it on top of the Chicken with half of the Rice.Layer the balance of the fried onions and all the gravy on the rice layer.

Next spread the balance of the Rice..Drizzle a little bit of ghee(1/2tsp),milk(3 tsp).

Cover with an air-tight lid or a foil and bake for 45min.Once out of the oven, take a ladle and mix it gently but well.