Servings : Serves 4-6
The simplicity of this one-pot meal recipe is just unbelievable, especially considering the fantastic results in the end! A definite family favourite and a must-try recipe!!
Ingredients
- 1 medium chicken, skin removed then cut into 8-10 pieces (1 to 1.5kg)
- 3 cups basmati rice, washed 2-3 times then soaked for half an hour.
- 4-5 onions, sliced and fried until golden brown
- 2 cups yoghurt
- 2 cardamom
- 1/2 tsp whole black pepper
- 4 tbsp chopped coriander leaves
- 1 tbsp chopped mint leaves
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cloves
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp coriander powder
- 2 tbsp garlic paste
- 2 tbsp ginger paste
- 2 chopped green chilli
- 1 tbsp javetri/mace (optional)
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1/2 tsp saffron
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 3-4 potatoes, peeled quartered and fried until tender (optional)
Instructions
First, marinate the chicken in all the ingredients (aside from the rice and reserve half the fried onions and half the chopped coriander/mint leaves). You can marinate for 6 hours, but it's preferable to marinate overnight.
When ready to cook, take the marinated chicken out of the fridge at least an hour before you start cooking so that it comes to room temperature. In the meantime, wash then soak 3 cups of rice in water for about 20-30 mins. Soak a few saffron strands in some water and set aside. Bring a big pot of water to boil, add salt, 4 cardamom pods, 2-3 cinnamon sticks and 2-3 cloves plus about 2 tbsp. of oil.
Drain the soaked rice and add it to this water when it is boiling. Cook until the rice is about halfway done (about 6-7 minutes), remove and strain out all the water.
Now take a heavy pot/pan and add the (uncooked) chicken with all its marinade and spread it out in the bottom of the pot (I also added fried potato quarters during this stage on top of the chicken). Then add HALF of the semi-cooked rice, sprinkle some chopped coriander/mint leaves, the remaining fried onions, saffron color, then add the remaining rice over it all, cover tightly with the lid and cook for 30min. First 5 minute at high flame, next 15 minutes at medium flame and last 10 minutes at low flame.
If your pot/pan is thin, make sure you place a tava (the flat pan for making chapatis/parathas/rotis) under the pot so that your biryani doesn't burn. You can place this tava after the first 5 minutes
Serve with raita and green chutney. Enjoy!
Salaam, If I were to cook the biryani in the oven, how long do u think I should cook it for and at what heat setting? I have an electric stove and if I don’t stir the chicken it’s bound to burn/stick to the bottom.
W/Salaam, have personally never tried cooking it in the oven. Place a flat heavy pan under the pan when on the stove to protect the chicken from getting burnt. This is done after the first 5 minutes.
i tried this biriyani ystrday n it ws superb. i lovd it. my 6 yr old son loved it n whn i ws goin to serve my maid he tld me mom dnt finish it, i wnt it for dinnr also.lol. trust me i love all ur recipes n i hv tried soo many n they were easy to make n finally a hit. may allah bless u more n more. love u.:):)
Dear fauzia,Alhamdullillah I cave cooked 2 times my fmly loved it an today frd am cooking it again.Jazakallah kheir
I love this site.trying ur fish biryani tomorrow.i just read this reciepe sounds interesting but im just wondering that will the chicken be properly cooked like this?you havnt written for how long we should marrinate the chicken for?my family doesnt like ny sort of meat if its not very well cooked..do u think its better idea to marinate the chicken then fry for some time so atleast its half cooked like the half cook rice and then put them in pot to be fully cooked together?thanks ill wait for the ur reply
Hi, you can marinate overnight (I think I have mentioned it somewhere in the above comments) and no I would not recommend that you fry the chicken. It normally is done to perfection if the instructions are followed accurately.
I made this today, and turned out perfect…thank you so much <3
aslm ,
can you please tell me approximately how many kg of potatoes can be added to the briyani
W/Salaam, I use a little more than half a kg, I cut them into halves or if they are big then quarters.
also i wanted to ask you whether the saffron color it mixed with some water or is it powdered ?
Saffron comes in strands. You can add them as is into the marinade mixture or mix them with a few drops of warm water then add them in.
Salam….I’ve tried this recipe twice so far and alhamdulillah the taste is good but the chicken is still raw after 30 mins….when I cook it more the rice gets a little mushy especially at the bottom….do you have any suggestions ? What kind of pot do you use?
W/Salaam, I use a regular aluminium pot, medium thickness. Are you using an electric stove? Normally mine is done perfectly within 30 minutes. Do you follow the exact timings of the heat?
I am trying to make this biryani and I have roughly 14 pieces of chicken, good sizes. It seems to be that there is too much dahi in the marinade…I used about 3 cups (220ml each)…I plan to cook tomorrow morning, is there anyway to reduce the dahi? I do not want to just pour it out because then it will get rid of the other spices as well….or do you feel the dahi amount is ok? I am confused, please help! I need a reply before tomorrow….
It should be fine, but if you are worried you can remove some of the mixture, dry it off in a separate pan then drizzle it later over your biryani so as not to lose out on the flavour.
Where can i get saffron
Where can i get saffron colour from? Can’t seem to find in a few asian shops in clapton
No idea where Clapton is,
No idea where Clapton is, sorry. Try checking for it online?
Salaam sis. Roughly how much
Salaam sis. Roughly how much salt should I use? Its my first time attempting the recipe and I’m fasting so can’t taste it.
Approx 2 level tsp.
Approx 2 level tsp.
Assalamu Alaikum sister.
Assalamu Alaikum sister..Jazakaallah for your lovely recipes.
Can i add some biryani mix to the chicken or rice to make it a little more spicy.
W/Salaam, sure you can. 🙂
W/Salaam, sure you can. 🙂
After putting the raw chicken
After putting the raw chicken marinated and half cooked rice in a foil pan , can I place it in the oven instead of the stove? If so, what temperature and time ?
Thank you
A fan wrote to me that this
A fan wrote to me that this technique worked for her in the oven. At 180 C for 30-40 minutes. However I personally have never tried it so am not sure how the results would be or if the chicken will get fully cooked this way.
when you say half cooked rice
when you say half cooked rice.. how would I know if its half cooked. For eg: if if I break the grain, it should cut in half?
Yes it should break but not
Yes it should break but not easily, it should have a bit of resistance.
What kind of yoghurt you used
What kind of yoghurt you used, sour or sweet one?
Plain FRESH yoghurt, not
Plain FRESH yoghurt, not sweet and not sour.
I want to make this using
I want to make this using around 1.5lb chicken breast. Should I just halve the amount in the recipie? Thanks
Yes you can halve the amounts
Yes you can halve the amounts. 🙂
Salam fauzia,
Salam fauzia,
I just love ur recipes!! I want to try making this but have few questions. Are the fried onions added in the marinade?
If I’m not using saffron I should mix the yellow coloring in the marinade itself to have the biryani color? I will be using Tefal non stick so do I need to place tawa under it? I’m not sure about the thickness…
W/Salaam, half the fried
W/Salaam, half the fried onions are added to the marinade and half when layering the rice and marinade mixture. Add some colour to the marinade and drizzle some over the rice too. And just to be on the safe side, place the tawa under the pan to prevent the chicken from burning.
Thanks for the quick reply.i
Thanks for the quick reply.i will be marinating tonight and cook tomorrow wish me luck 🙂
I have tried many of ur recipes where can I email u the pics?
Thanks and good luck! You can
Thanks and good luck! You can email your tried and tested pics to fauziaskitchenfun@hotmail.com and I will transfer them to our tried and tested album on Facebook. 🙂
Sure will do it soon
Sure will do it soon inshallah:)
Hi fauzia, plz can u say 3
Hi fauzia, plz can u say 3 cups of rice u added is how much in Kgs????
Each cup is normally around
Each cup is normally around 185gm so it would be just a bit over half a kilogram.