Delicious Homemade Biryani with Chicken Curry and Rice

Biryani is a rich and flavorful dish that combines aromatic rice, succulent chicken curry, and a blend of spices. This recipe ensures you can easily make a restaurant-style biryani at home. Let’s get started!

Ingredients

For the Rice:

• 2 cups Basmati rice
• 4 cups water
• 1 bay leaf
• 2-3 cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2-3 cardamom pods
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp oil or ghee

For the Chicken Curry:

• 500g chicken (bone-in or boneless, as preferred)
• 2 onions (finely sliced)
• 2 tomatoes (chopped)
• 1/2 cup yogurt
• 1 tbsp. ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1 tsp red chili powder
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin powder
• 1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves (chopped)
• 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves (chopped)
• 2 tbsp. oil or ghee
• Salt to taste

For Layering:

• 1/4 cup warm milk
• A pinch of saffron strands (optional)
• 2 tbsp. fried onions
• 1 tbsp. ghee or butter

Instructions

Step 1: Cooking the Rice

1. Wash the basmati rice under running water until clear and soak for 30 minutes.
2. In a large pot, bring water to a boil and add bay leaf, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, salt, and oil.
3. Add the soaked rice and cook until 80% done (it should still have a bite).
4. Drain the rice and set aside.

Step 2: Preparing the Chicken Curry

1. Heat oil or ghee in a deep pan and sauté the sliced onions until golden brown.
2. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for a minute until fragrant.
3. Add chopped tomatoes and cook until they turn soft.
4. Stir in turmeric, red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and salt.
5. Add chicken pieces and cook on medium heat until they turn white.
6. Pour in yogurt and mix well. Let it cook until the chicken is tender and the oil separates.
7. Add garam masala, fresh coriander, and mint leaves. Stir well and turn off the heat.

Step 3: Assembling the Biryani

1. In a heavy-bottomed pot, spread a layer of chicken curry at the bottom.
2. Add a layer of cooked rice on top.
3. Sprinkle some saffron-infused milk, fried onions, and ghee.
4. Repeat the layers until all ingredients are used up, finishing with a rice layer.
5. Cover with a tight lid and cook on low heat (dum method) for 15-20 minutes.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy!

• Gently mix the biryani before serving.
• Serve hot with salad, or a side of pickles.

Enjoy your homemade biryani, full of delicious flavors and aromas!