Classic Chicken Biryani
Ingredients
- 2 cups Carolina® Basmati Rice
- 2/3 cup plain yogurt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp ginger, minced
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp garam masala
- 2 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tbsp + 1 1/2 tsp salt, divided
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 lb boneless and skinless chicken thighs
- 1/4 cup ghee
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 6 green cardamom pods
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 star anise
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 onion, diced
- 1/2 tsp saffron threads
- 3 1/2 cups water
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped
Instructions
This flavorful and fragrant Biryani will have your house smelling wonderful for days!
Step 1
In a medium bowl, stir together yogurt, lemon juice, oil, ginger, garlic, garam masala, turmeric, 1 tbsp salt, black pepper, cumin and paprika. Toss in chicken until well coated. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for at least 4 to 6 hours but overnight is best.
Step 2
Preheat broiler on HIGH. Place chicken on lightly greased foil-lined baking sheet. Broil for 10 to 12 mins or until starting to brown.
Step 3
Meanwhile, heat 1/4 cup ghee in large Dutch oven or saucepan set over medium heat. Add cinnamon stick, cardamom, cloves, star anise and bay leaves. Cook for 2 to 3 mins or until toasted and fragrant. Stir in onions and cook for 5 to 8 mins or until tender and lightly golden.
Step 4
Stir in rice, remaining salt and saffron. Cook for 3 to 5 mins or until well coated. Stir in 3 1/2 cups water and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Cook for 15 to 20 mins or until rice is tender and absorbs most of the liquid. Add chicken juices from baking sheet into the rice and stir. Nestle in chicken pieces. Cover and cook for 5 to 8 mins or until rice has absorbed all the liquid.
Step 5-–Garnish with cilantro and mint before serving
Recipe Tips
Remove bay leaves and whole spices if desired.
For festive biryani, add frozen 1 cup peas in the last 5 mins of cooking. Serve with a dollop of yogurt. Garnish with sliced almonds, pistachios, dried chopped apricots, fried shallots and fresh thinly sliced chilies.
Garam Marsala: What is it?
Indian food typically uses garam masala, a blend of ground spices. The ingredients for garam masala are often roasted before grinding in order to improve flavor and aroma. Masala and garam, respectively, are words that simply mean “spices” and “spicy.” Yet, garam masala isn’t necessarily regarded as a particularly hot spice blend.
Standard Ingredients:
The following are standard garam masala ingredients:
- Coriander \Cardamom
- Smoked pepper
- Cumin
- Nutmeg
- Turmeric
Flavor
Garam masala adds warmth, sweetness, flowery notes, and a bit of heat from the black pepper. It’s intended to be a flavorful and fragrant spice. Garam masala is normally not very hot, despite the fact that the ingredients turmeric, coriander, and cumin may make you think of a curry.
Cooking With Garam Marsala
Garam masala is often used to season the food and improve the aroma at the end of cooking. More garam masala may be sprinkled on top of the dish. Often made from the individual spices, garam masala should be consumed within a few days of preparation. It is frequently not the only condiment or spice in a recipe.
Variations
When making Indian food, you have a lot of options because “garam masala” simply refers to “spices with varying levels of heat.” This gives you a lot of freedom when producing your own garam masala or finding a substitute. Before changing a recipe with spices you already have on hand, check the ingredient list. Experiment with your garam masala recipe to find the spice blend you prefer the most.
Where to Keep
Keep garam masala in an airtight container in a cool, dark location. Garam masala loses its potency rather quickly, thus it is advisable to utilize it as soon as possible. You can use it for up to six months, but you should use it within a few weeks even if possible.
If you like dishes made with Basmati Rice, try our: Easy Chicken Tikka Masala with Basmati Rice.
Recipe Video
Cooking Tips
For even more recipe ideas along with cooking tips on topics like the correct rice to water ratio for your rice cooker, take a look at our website. Looking for a dinner idea? Try our:chaufa recipe.
